FEARS have been raised that moving an emergency stroke care from Abergavenny's Nevill Hall Hospital could adversely impact Powys patients.

The hospital, that is 20 miles from Brecon, currently provides emergency hyperacute and acute stroke services with many patients taken from South Powys to the Gwent hospital by ambulance.

But the Aneurin Bevan Health Board is considering closing the service at Nevill Hall and basing all hyperacute and acute stroke services at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, which is 39 miles from Brecon and is 52 and 59 miles away from Builth and Llandrindod Wells respectively.

David Adams the chief officer of patients' watchdog the Brecknock and Radnor Community Health Council (CHC) said: "A considerable distance is involved from here to the Royal Gwent on what is a limited road network with very little dual carriageway.

"It's difficult both in terms of getting patients there safely and for relatives visiting."

Powys teaching Health Board has said it has been involved in the Aneurin Bevan' board's consultation and that all acute services are currently being reviewed as part of the South Wales Programme, which is considering the future of major hospital services in the area.

The Powys board is also working with the ambulance service to study 999 travel times to stroke units.

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