AN AIR of disappointment hung over the Monmouth Town Council chambers on Monday night (1st June) as it became evident that no minor injuries facility would ever return to Monmouth.

A long-standing campaign by town councillors Terry Christopher and Graham Pritchard to find a replacement service looked to vanish into thin air as the town's Community Affairs Committee heard from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (UHB) Head of Partnerships and Networks, Ms Bronwen John.

Ms John informed councillors that due to reasons of providing clinical excellence, minor injuries provision would be centralised, meanwhile it emerged that negotiations were taking place at Welsh Government level to provide a similar service through GP surgeries.

Councillor Sue White reminded the committee that when Monnow Vale was built, it was for local and elderly residents to have a service on their doorstep and avoid the stress of travelling long distances: "Why has this changed, we were told consultants were going to be there, why hasn't this happened? We deserve an answer!"

Ms John replied that there were still many services available at Monnow Vale, but councillors had to remember that the NHS has changed the way it works.

Cllr Gerry Bright pointed out that he was not so concerned as to what it does, but what it doesn't do: "We had a hospital that did minor operations, now we have one that cannot even put a sticking plaster on."

The 'Choose Well' leaflet that has been delivered to GP surgeries, local businesses and through local media, (read more on Page 11) details the contact numbers for different health services and also came under fire from Cllr Sue Chivers who said: "This tells me nothing new that I don't already know, I am disappointed but knew nothing would ever come of our efforts to get a minor injuries service back in the town."

Cllr Chris Munslow echoed her sentiments and said that town residents now have to travel to Abergavenny or Hereford.

Ms John replied that attendance levels at Monnow Vale was the key decision as nursing staff were not seeing the number of patients and the reason was down to patient safety that services were now being centralised as a higher grade of patient care can be provided.

Once the Choose Well campaign has been established in the Monmouth, it will be rolled out in the Chepstow area.