PATIENTS are no longer able to get life-saving prescriptions from any of the chemists' shops in Monmouth on Sundays and Bank Holidays, The Beacon can reveal. Angry patients have contacted this paper in recent days to express their concern at the decision not to allow pharmacies in the town to open on Sundays and Bank Holidays. The Beacon has been told the decision has been taken as part of a three months consultation process, aimed at determining patients' needs. However, our information suggests the present closure situation is unlikely to be reversed. One reader, Mr J.A.Cutting, who lives at Osbaston, wrote to say "I was appalled to find in a town the size of Monmouth that there are no pharmacies open on a Sunday". His letter added "I saw what I needed for a sick relation in one chemist but was not allowed to buy it as there was not a pharmacist on the premises. I would have to go to Abergavenny to get what I needed. "This is mot unfair on old people who are more likely to need this service and would have difficulty in getting to Abergavenny. "We have four chemists in Monmouth, so surely it would be feasible for them to have a turn once a month for two hours, as they had previously done. Does anyone else agree with me?" he asked. The Beacon also received a letter from Gary Witcombe, who is chairman of the Welsh Electors Community Group, who said his members were very concerned at the closure of the pharmacies in the town on Sundays and Bank Holidays. "People now have to travel to Abergavenny, which is a round trip of forty miles" he said. "We are also concerned about the big rise in petrol prices, which has a knock on effect for those drivers who have to travel to Abergavenny to pick up prescriptions for the sick and elderly". Mr Witcombe said his group had been told the review was for a trial period. "But we have come to the conclusion that Monmouth is the only town which is going to lose this service" he said. "It's about time the councils and other elected representatives started fighting for the rights of those who put them in power. "What is the reason for the local health board robbing Monmouth people of this emergency chemists' service? "What is the cost to the patient, and the inconvenience caused to those patients by the loss of the local service, which is suppose to be a patient-centred service?" Mr David Kenny, who is secretary of the Gwent Community Health Council, confirmed that the Local Health Board had agreed to close the pharmacies in Monmouth on a Sunday and on Bank Holidays, but only for a three month consultation trial period. During that period, anyone with views on the issue should contact Mr Kenny to make those views known. "The Local Health Board claim it is very expensive to keep the pharmacies open on a Sunday and Bank Holidays" said Mr Kenny. "They believe limited resources could be better spent in other ways". He revealed that people had already made comments on the proposal, with some people being concerned. Also, a petition opposing the closures has already been received. Mr Gareth Hollyfield, speaking for the Local Health Board, said the Board had been forced to look at its spending streams. "Some parts of the service are not being used and the Board must ensure we are getting value for money" he said. Mr Hollyfield said the Board would not be taking any decisions lightly, which was why the Community Health Council would be notifying the Board of any views it had received. It is likely a decision on the future opening hours of the chemists shops will be taken later in July. Caroline Pearce, who is deputy manager at the Boots store in the town, said historically the four chemists had taken it in turns to provide emergency cover. That cover involved opening for one hour on a Sunday and also on Bank Holidays. Mrs Pearce said the service had only limited use by patients and involved the pharmacy having a pharmacist and assistant on duty for one hour on the Sunday and Bank Holiday. Meanwhile, the Community Health Council, as the patients watchdog, are urging anyone with comments to get in touch with them immediately.