West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has welcomed moves by the South Worcestershire GPs to plan for growing patient numbers as more new homes are built across the county. The South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group is working with Public Health chiefs to draw up a plan to cope with the extra people who will need healthcare services. The Chancellor announced an extra £2 billion to help fund the NHS in England with an extra £10.2 million – an uplift of 3.19 per cent - being allocated to the South Worcestershire GPs. The money will allow the CCG to budget and plan for future growth. Harriett commented: “The South Worcestershire Development Plan will undergo a final round of consultation and examination in the Spring and it is expected to be signed off by the Planning Inspector in the summer. “The plan will cover housing development growth over the next two decades but we are already seeing new housing developments underway. “I welcome the news that the local GPs are looking at how to plan for this growth in population and I hope that the additional £3 million for this year will be useful. “There are already conversations underway about how to expand primary school capacity to cope with added housing in Malvern and I am also calling for the dualling of the Southern Link road and the Cotswold Line.”