24-hour minor injury unit could be closed at night under health board plans

More events to explain plans for the overnight closure of the minor injuries unit at a Gwent hospital have been announced by health bosses.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is planning to change the unit at Abergavenny’s Nevill Hall Hospital from being a 24 hour operation to one that is open from 7am to 1am daily.

Why is Caerphilly in Gwent?

Caerphilly County Borough was formed on April 1, 1996, by the merger of the Rhymney Valley district of Mid Glamorgan with the Islwyn borough of Gwent.

Administratively, for local services such as the police and health, the borough now falls under a wider region referred to as Gwent. This comprises the council areas of Caerphilly, Newport, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.

That would mean in the earliest hours of the morning, from 1am to 7am, only the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport would have a minor injuries unit open, while the emergency department at the Grange Hospital in Cwmbran would continue to receive the most seriously ill and injured patients.

If the board approves the closure of the emergency nurse-led minor injuries unit at Nevill Hall. Those requiring treatment, from across Gwent, and parts of south Powys, would make the journey to Newport.

The health board has said its figures show an average of one patient a night attends Nevill Hall between 1am and 7pm.

It is running a consultation on the plans, which has been extended to 12 weeks.

Further meetings are being held across Gwent, including at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, Ystrad Mynach, on Tuesday October 3 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

There will also be on online meeting, via Microsoft Teams, on Monday October 2 from 2pm to 3.30pm. People wanting to join the online sessions should email abb.engagement@wales.nhs.uk while the board is also encouraging contributions via its social media channels.

Jaggery

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