NURSING staff at Maindiff Court Hospital say Aneurin Bevan Health Board has given very little thought to patients with the decision to close the acute admission ward Rholben Villa reports GEMMA BALL.

Senior nurse managers told staff last month that the ward was to close in order to concentrate on the development and funding of a new team which will focus on caring for people at home.

An source close to the hospital told The Chronicle, Staff were informed in a meeting called early this month that patient care would transfer to Ysbytir Aneurin Bevan in Ebbw Vale which is due to open in October 2010.

They were informed that while no one would be made redundant, they were expected to take an active role in finding jobs.

This decision, at the time of the meeting, had not been put out to consultation and neither patient groups, GPs or other agencies, such as MIND which play a crucial role in caring for patients had been informed.

Since the meeting, the hospital kitchen has also been earmarked for closure, despite the fact that two wards will remain open when Rholben Villa is closed.

Rholben Villa is an 11 bedded integrated acute admission ward for the population of Abergavenny and Monmouth.

It offers acute mental health services for people aged between 16 and 65 years.

The new unit at Ysbytir Aneurin Bevan also has 11 beds and will cover the areas of Blaenau Gwent which is dealt with by Dan y Bryn in Ebbw Vale as well as Abergavenny and Monmouth.

This will mean that the amount of beds available to patients within the Abergavenny and Monmouth area will be reduced to four, said theChronicles source

Many individuals who suffer with mental health problems are disadvantaged within society and the closure of local services will only exacerbate the problem as travelling will be expensive and potentially very anxiety provoking for those who are unwell and financially less well off.

This decision has been communicated in a very cavalier fashion with little, if any thought being given to the people who need the care that is provided for them at Rholben Villa or the staff who are dedicated to providing that care.

An Aneurin Bevan Health Board spokesperson said, We are currently discussing with our staff and the Community Health Council important changes to Mental Health Services.

A requirement of the Welsh Assembly Government is the development of Crisis Resolution Teams for Mental Health.

These teams will be key in providing care and treatment in patients own homes, to maintain independence and avoid hospital admission whenever possible.

This development of our services will mean a reduction of hospital beds but will also enable the Health Board to make improvements to the standard of care so that it is of the very highest standard, and is also fit for the future.