THE people of Monmouth will be the first in Wales to have their health and social care available under one roof when a unique £6 million centre opens early next month.

Monnow Vale, off Rockfield Road, was eight years in the planning, with NHS and local authority working together to provide a facility capable of delivering seamless care to patients.

It will offer a range of patients a combination of medical, social, community and rehabilitation services, according to their needs and has a 25-bed ward, an outpatient suite, 24-hour minor injuries service, day services, and day hospital facilities for the elderly.

It will also be a base for community social care and nursing teams, and have dedicated GP medical support, to ensure that all aspects of patients' care and requirements are planned and met, both during their stay in hospital and when they leave.

"It does not matter what organisation you work for, this is a neutral base and the aim is to provide better services for patients," said Monnow Vale general manager Anne Rollings.

"To have inpatient, outpatient and day facilities on one site like this and a mix of staff to focus on a co-ordinated approach to individuals' care is a big step forward for the Monmouth area."

Monnow Vale will also benefit the people of surrounding communities, such as Raglan, Trellech, Mitchel Troy and Llantilio Crossenny.

It is a partnership involving Gwent Health-care Trust, Monmouth-shire Local Health Board and Monmouthshire county council and is geared toward being a first class example of the joint working between health and social care providers long advocated by the Assembly.

The project is designed to provide a modern, airy alternative to the several existing and often outdated health and social care facilities in Monmouth, which are earmarked for closure.

The biggest of these will be Monmouth Hospital, on Hereford Road, which will be sold off when patients and staff have transferred to Monnow Vale next month.

Dixton Road clinic and Overmonnow day hospital will also close.