A Medway councillor cornered the administration Thursday night over Hoo Peninsula GP access – and whether thousands of new homes will leave residents even further from a doctor’s appointment.

Councillor Sands didn’t mince words. Question D on Thursday’s Members’ Questions hit Deputy Leader Councillor Murray with the blunt reality: Hoo residents already drive to Gillingham for basic healthcare. This isn’t about future planning – it’s happening now.

The core question

Sands wanted numbers. Current GP provision across the Peninsula. Projected capacity gaps. And crucially – is the Council actually coordinating with the NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board?

“If housing growth proceeds without secured and timely healthcare provision, it risks undermining both resident wellbeing and their confidence. In that context, the following points require clear and accountable responses please.”

Classic accountability gap, this. The Integrated Care Board plans NHS services across Kent and Medway – but when residents can’t get a GP appointment, who exactly do they blame? The district council approving the houses, or the ICB managing the surgeries?

Why the Peninsula is a flashpoint

Hoo Peninsula’s been earmarked for massive housing growth through successive Local Plan drafts. Villages like Hoo St Werburgh, Chattenden, Stoke, Isle of Grain – all set for hundreds more homes.

But the Peninsula’s GP surgeries serve scattered rural communities with patchy transport links. Run out of appointments locally? That’s a 20-30 minute drive to Strood or Gillingham. Each way. For a routine check-up that should be five minutes down the road.

Residents and parish councils have been raising this throughout the Local Plan process. Will schools expand? GP surgeries? Bus routes? Or just the house numbers?

Local Plan context

Thursday’s agenda had another healthcare-adjacent bombshell. Councillor Pearce’s Question E tackled consultation compliance – noting the Inspectors’ pointed queries from 27 March about documents that weren’t available during the key Regulation 19 consultation phase.

Both questions circle the same concern. Medway’s locking in housing commitments before sorting the infrastructure.

Not exactly reassuring.

What happens next

The Deputy Leader responded verbally Thursday night. We’ll know what was said once the minutes are published.

The full Members’ Questions text is available through the Council’s appendix.