HEALTH bosses have come under fire from Severnside councillors furious at the withdrawal of orthopaedic services in Caldicot.

Following the Aneurin Bevan Health Board’s controversial decision to close the minor injuries unit at Chepstow Community Hospital, councillors have launched a scathing attack on the board for “ignoring the people of Severnside”.

Last November, ABHB announced a number of changes in Monmouthshire, including closing the minor injuries units at Chepstow and Monmouth’s Monnow Vale Hospitals, as well as withdrawing its orthopaedic services from Caldicot Surgery.

ABHB immediately came under attack from local residents and councillors, who branded the decision “appalling and irresponsible”.

Chepstow councillors lashed out at the board’s locality manager, Angela Jones, during a Lower Wye Meeting over the failure to consult them on the proposal.

Mrs Jones said: “I put my hands up. I should have picked up the phone.”

Mrs Jones was scheduled to attend a Severnside Committee meeting last week, to answer questions on the withdrawal of orthopaedic services in Caldicot. However, she sent her apologies.

Caldicot councillor Dave Evans said: “Herewego again. They failed to consult over the closure of the minor injuries unit and didn’t even bother to consider how it would affect Caldicot. They eventually went to a Chepstow meeting, but completely ignored the people of Severnside.”

Magor and Undy community councillor and secretary of Caldicot’s patient participation group, Sue Sandham, added: “I’m getting fed-up of not knowing what is going on with my health care fromone minute to the next.”

Members voted to call a special meeting, requesting that either Mrs Jones or the chief executive of ABHB attend to explain its decision and the lack of consultation.