HEALTH chiefs have been urged to hold a public meeting in Caldicot over plans to close a dementia ward at Chepstow Hospital.

The Aneurin Bevan Health Board has held several meetings in conjunction with a consultation over the plans to treat dementia patients either in Newport or Ebbw Vale.

But Caldicot town councillors say people in the town should be able to voice their concerns about the closure of the 15-bed St Pierre ward at Chepstow.

Mayor of Caldicot Cllr Phil Stevens said: “This is something a lot of people are upset about.”

The town council is concerned that people from Caldicot will have difficulty getting to either St Woolos Hospital in Newport or Ysbyty Tri Chwm in Ebbw Vale.

Cllr Kay Harris said: “There is no possibility of people from the Caldicot area visiting St Woolos – our bus service is not good enough and if people can get there by car there is nowhere to park.

“They are going to take people from Chepstow and put them somewhere where they are virtually not going to have any visitors.

“I think they (the health board) should come to Caldicot, whether it is to this council or we initiate an open meeting.

“They need to realise that people feel strongly about it.”

Cllr Sharon Tovey said patients on St Pierre ward were vulnerable and “who need their families around them more.”

There has been a widespread campaign against the closure with a cross-party call from Monmouthshire County Council.”