GPs in Forfar and Kirriemuir say local surgeries are being pushed to breaking point by the number of new homes planned for the area.
And they’ve warned patient safety is at risk if 245 extra houses are built near Forfar community campus.
Guild Homes hopes to more than double the size of its Strathmore Fields development at Turfbeg.
In an unprecedented move, the four GP practices in Forfar and Kirrie have lodged a joint objection.
Doctors say staffing issues, pressure on premises and spiralling patient lists are contributing to the current crisis.
But the housebuilder says it sympathises with the GPs.
The developer hopes the objection will open the wider debate on future local health provision.
And the company says it may provide a site for a new town health centre.
The bid for the Garth Farm land near the Forfar-bypass will now be decided at a Scottish Government appeal.
It comes after Guild Homes challenged Angus Council’s non-determination of the 245-house application it lodged last year.
What the GPs say
Lour Road, Ravenswood and Academy Medical Centre practices in Forfar as well as Kirrie Health Centre lodged the objection.
They say a number of recent developments have had a “significant impact on an already stretched healthcare system.”
“One practice has experienced a 17% increase in patient numbers over the past five years,” said cluster lead GP Dr Nico Grunenberg.
“On all four sites, rooms are at a premium.
“We are having to reject requests to site new or changing services within our buildings.
“The recent spell of new housebuilding has already brought us to the point where practices are considering restricting the number of patients they can safely cater for.”
In 2019, Forfar surgeries shut their lists to new patients for six months.
“Without consideration and resolution of healthcare premises and staffing issues, the local healthcare provision is unable to safely absorb any additional increase in population.”
Developer’s sympathy
The land which Guild Homes wants to build on is not currently allocated for housing.
But the firm says the site is a natural extension of its current development.
And its appeal will highlight other Forfar sites in the Westfield area which are earmarked for 300 new homes but have yet to be developed.
Company director Mark Guild said: “We fully sympathise with the NHS and local GP practices.
“It has been a very difficult period for all with resources and staff stretched to the maximum during the pandemic.
“And we are pleased our planning application for housing at Turfbeg has provided the opportunity for the local medical practices to be heard and express their concerns regarding the lack of resources for health care in Forfar.
“More than ever we all appreciate the service they provide.”
Previous healthcare sites provided
And he defended the firm’s “strong track record” of assisting the delivery of medical facilities in Angus as part of their developments.
“In Kirriemuir we provided a site for and delivered a state-of-the art dental surgery,” said Mr Guild.
“In Friockheim we provided a serviced site for a new health centre, free of charge.”
But that site has never been developed by NHS Tayside.
Health chiefs are fighting to keep the current Friockheim health centre open after its last remaining GP said she would be leaving in May.
Mr Guild said a site for a new health centre could be a possibility.
“We would be happy to explore opportunities with NHS and the local medical practices to provide help in the same way,” he said.
“Forfar is identified for growth.
“There is both lack of healthcare resources and a shortage of housing in Forfar.
“We hope to work in partnership to ensure the community have access to both good quality healthcare and good quality homes.”
