PROPOSALS to shut a 15-bed dementia ward at Chepstow Community Hospital have been criticised by local MP David Davies.
St Pierre ward has been earmarked for closure as part of a wider redesign of mental health services for older people by the Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
The health board says it wants to create three “centres of excellence” which would offer the very best care for people with dementia.
Patients from south Monmouthshire would receive care at St Woolos Hospital in Newport and those from the north of the county at Ysbyty’r Tri Chwm at Ebbw Vale.
Mr Davies said: “It seems ludicrous that a county the size of Monmouthshire, which has a rapidly ageing population, will potentially be denied access to local mental health facilities.
“Instead patients will be further penalised by having to waste time and money on unnecessary travel to other dementia units across Gwent.”
The MP has written to the health board asking for an explanation of the thinking behind the changes.
He says it appears to have been prompted by “persistent difficulties” in recruiting enough nurses to staff older adult mental health in-patient units.
The ward at Chepstow is being earmarked for closure although its occupancy rate of 89 per cent this year is the highest of the four dementia wards in Gwent for which figures are available.
A health board spokesman said: “In order to deliver the highest standard of services to older adults with mental health needs, we have worked with our staff, patients and their families and our partner organisations to develop a preferred option for the future of these services.
“We believe this preferred option will enable us to strengthen our local community-based services for older people with mental health needs in all areas of the health board.
“For those who need inpatient care, we would develop three centres of excellence which would offer the very best care for people with dementia.
“We want now to share our ideas with the public and listen to their feedback before any decision is made.”