ANEURIN Bevan University Health Board have confirmed that it will adopt the Motor Neurone Disease Charter.

The confirmation came at Pontypool Community Council’s full council meeting as part of an update on the progress of the Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran.

The £350 million hospital at Llanfrechfa is due to open in early 2021 and will see a radical change to the way that care is delivered in Gwent.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s Judith Paget provided an update on the progress of the hospital at the meeting, and she confirmed that the hospital would be compliant with the charter.

A spokeswoman for the Health Board said: “Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is delighted to be adopting the MND Charter and is hoping that by working with the MND Association and local councils we can help to positively influence the lives of people living with MND as well as their carers.”

The MND Charter is a statement of the respect, care and support that people living with MND and their carers deserve and should expect.

The five points of the charter are:

• The right to an early diagnosis and information

• The right to access quality care and treatments

• The right to be treated as individuals and with dignity and respect

• The right to maximise their quality of life

• Carers of people with MND have the right to be valued, respected, listened to and well-supported.

Torfaen and Newport councils have already signed up to the charter.

Abersychan ward councillor Giles Davies posed the question at the meeting, as he has campaigned for greater awareness about the disease after losing his father Douglas Richard Davies to the disease in 2017.

The MND association said: “We are very pleased that Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has said that it will adopt the Charter.

“The MND Association looks forward to working with them to ensure that its principles are implemented across all its activities, including at the new Grange University Hospital.”