A health boss has defended the decision to pause plans for a Leicestershire town's second GP surgery amid claims from councillors the current situation was creating "chaos". 

Toby Sanders, chief executive at Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (LLR ICB), appeared before Leicestershire County Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday (January 14), to defend decisions to pause plans for a second GP in Melton. 

Melton currently has only one GP surgery, Latham House, which serves 36,000 patients and is the largest surgery in the county in terms of patient numbers. 

Mr Sanders' defence came after the LLR ICB had said earlier this week there was "no evidence" Melton needed a second GP surgery. 

During the meeting, Reform UK Councillor Andrew Innes, for Melton East, told the committee that residents were approaching him, saying they were "worried" about not being able to get appointments. 

He said: "Three to four years ago, there was a need recognised for a practice with residents complaining. We're now sitting four years later with residents complaining they can't get blood tests or that you've got to wait six weeks. 

"There is chaos in Melton and that's why four of us [Melton councillors] are sitting here. There's something not right in Melton. You don't know why, we don't know why and therefore, how do we address it? 

"I've got residents who are worried about their health. They come to me, they phone me, they email me." 

In response to Cllr Innes, Mr Sanders said the ICB "recognise what was described" by councillors and patients, but that Latham House "didn't stand out" or looked "particularly remarkable" in terms of the level of access and the number of appointments. 

It comes as the LLR ICB found that appointments increased by 6.3% to 289,084 in 2025, compared to 271,866 in 2024/2025. 

The appointment rate had increased by 18 appointments, to 566 per 1,000 patients, in 2025 while face-to-face appointments decreased by 0.1%. The type of appointment offered was 60% face-to-face compared to 40% remote appointments. 

The ICB also stated that data showed a 3.19% increase in patient registrations at the current Melton practice between 2020 and August 2025. 

Mr Sanders did admit that there was an "issue" in terms of choice for residents of Melton due to only having one practice. He told the committee that he believed there was also an "issue" when it came to contacting or accessing the practice. 

He added: "The practice has been listening to that but there are a number of things that the practice has been doing […] both in terms of recruitment, in terms of premises, looking for alternatives locally and also how to use their branch facility nearby." 

Mr Sanders also acknowledged that population growth and future housing developments in Melton would also add "pressures". He continued: "The reason that the ICB in summer last year took that decision last year is that none of the data or metrics we're looking at would prioritise Melton above other areas in Leicestershire". 

He did say that the ICB was continuing to work with Latham House, as well as after recognising it was "very difficult" for residents. 

Other councillors also expressed concerns, including Melton Conservative councillor Bryan Lovegrove, who said the situation felt like a "sinking ship". He told the committee: "For generations, they said Melton wouldn't get a ring road, and it's opening this spring. 

"For generations, they said Melton was going to get a second doctor's surgery. It feels as if [Melton residents] are having their backs turned on them. There is something which is not working". 

Cllr Joe Orson also told the committee he felt "let down" by the ICB and claims that he and the previous chief executive had a "virtual handshake" over a second GP surgery in 2022. 

A spokesperson for the LLR ICB previously told the LDRS: "The ICB continues to work with Melton Borough Council to support ongoing work on access and service capacity for Melton residents. 

"We are also working with Latham House to increase the ways the practice can support local residents, including a new digital suite at the main site and an approved redevelopment of a property owned by the practice on Sherrard Street to extend clinical services."