THE chief executive of NHS Kirklees has faced a grilling from councillors over health provision in Ashbrow ward.

Mike Potts faced the scrutiny panel set up in the wake of a councillors’ call for action yesterday over stalled plans to establish a new GP surgery in the area.

The committee is set to continue hearing testimony from members of the public about their experience of health care in the neighbourhood.

Councillors have complained that residents in an area stricken with health issues because of poverty have had to make do with temporary and distant surgeries.

In a feisty session Mr Potts outlined the history of the area, and the commitments to a new health build which were made by the trust which was replaced by NHS Kirklees.

He said: “I cannot really comment as there was no audit trail and no board minutes.

“We agreed we would put a hold on new premises work until we had developed a comprehensive estates strategy.”

As a result Ashbrow was included in a list of 20 priority areas, but the worsening financial climate saw a number of schemes being put on hold.

A decision was also made that the new build should be in Bradley.

He said that discussions had taken place with Clr Ken Smith about sites such as the Little John Pub but added that they could not speculatively buy land, a business case had to be developed before consultants to source the land could be employed.

Having completed its estate plan the PCT even employed consultants to look into possible sites before the financial crisis prompted a directive to reassess the new schemes.

Elizabeth Smaje, who chaired the meeting, posed the question that while Bradley was their favoured option, what coverage was there for Brackenhall and Sheepridge which featured in the worst 10% of areas of deprivation.

The exchanges grew more testy when Mr Potts maintained that health provision was not linked to buildings. Examples of resources such as the Chestnut Centre prompted Clr Christine Stanfield to note: “The centre is wonderful, but there ain’t no doctors”.

Mr Potts said their research had never shown up problems registering with a doctor, adding: “I think we have to be careful with the idea that just because there isn’t a GP building in the middle of the area the population is not accessing services.”

The chairman pointed out that the NHS Kirklees reports emphasised accessibility.

He responded: “You are getting hooked up on the building.”

Clr Stanfield responded: “I’m getting hooked up on a GP in a reasonably accessible building near where you live.”

Mr Potts said registering with a GP had not been flagged up as a concern in any of their studies with the public.

More sessions of the Ashbrow health provision scrutiny panel will be announced over coming weeks.