Liberal Democrat Health and Wellbeing spokesperson Veronica German has today warned that A&E departments at Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall Hospitals are likely to see an increase in patients due to the cutting of hours at six minor injury units in Gwent.

Both Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall are already under a great deal of pressure with figures showing that the departments are on average seeing more than 100 patients a week this year than they were last. During January-June, around 2,600 more people attended A&E at the two hospitals than the year before.

Recently it has been announced that the opening times of six minor injury units in Gwent are set to be cut: Chepstow, Monmouth, Caerphilly, Tredegar and Torfaen (Pontypool and Blaenavon), with them closing at 1pm on Saturdays and staying completely closed on Sundays.

Veronica German AM commented:

“The Aneurin Bevan Health Board needs to have a serious re-think. Closing minor injuries units at the weekends is just going to increase the demands on Royal Gwent and Nevill Hall even further, as well as heighten the pressure on staff trying to meet waiting times targets.

“Not having these vital services open for the majority of weekends will result in more people having to travel to either Royal Gwent or Nevill Hall to receive treatment. Of course this is not at all practical for the patients, but with both departments already on average seeing more than 100 patients a week, it seems hardly practical for the departments either.

“I will be writing to the Health Minister to see what action she plans to take in order to stop these highly impractical cuts to weekend hours.”