Aneurin Bevan Health Board has been undertaking public consultation across Monmouthshire in recent weeks in response to future changes to the area's hospitals.

A Specialist and Critical Care Centre is to be built in Cwmbran, with the hope of taking some pressure away from Nevill Hall and the Royal Gwent Hospitals. The planned completion date is 2018.

Speaking in a town council meeting last Wednesday (26th July), Councillor Stephanie Dovey said: "They have been talking about this new hospital for at least 10 years."

Cllr David Dovey added: "We in county hall have had presentation upon presentation and I haven't seen anything come to fruition yet."

Councillors joined in worry over the lack of people aware of the consultation process, known as the South Wales Programme, and therefore the lack of people present at the meetings, held in Bulwark Community Centre in Chepstow and the Shire Hall in Monmouth. The consultation will continue until 19th July.

"By my recollection there were five town councillors present at the Bulwark meeting and three members of the public," said Cllr Hilary Beach.

"It is just appalling that the consultation was not publicised. It makes you very cynical to think that the health board are going through the motions of consulting without really consulting."

The council has deemed the issue serious enough to add to the agenda at their upcoming town meeting.

"We are sufficiently concerned about the lack of public consultation that we are going to discuss the issue at out own meeting," said Cllr Peter Farley.

"After our public consultation and after we have heard the public's views on the matter, we will respond to the health board," said town clerk Sandra Bushell.

Health board officials are "95 per cent sure" that the critical care unit will be built, at a cost of £241 million.