READING the Argus on Monday, September 22 about the troubles at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr hospital, the only thing I can say is what a waste of £172m. The Aneurin Bevan Health Board must take the blame for the problems at the hospital.

Ystrad Fawr was supposed to have been a flagship hospital for local people instead of going to the Royal Gwent, but because it was downgraded by the health board we now see the problems with junior doctors being withdrawn because it’s not busy enough.

You only have to listen to local people to know that it’s nothing more than an expensive health centre. No doubt you’ll get people who think it’s great, but there are a great many who don’t.

It should have a 24-hour A&E service because the situation is that you can be sitting in Ystrad Fawr for three hours until you are deemed ill and then you have to go to the Royal Gwent hospital anyway, so what’s the point of Ystrad Fawr hospital there.

Unless the Aneurin Bevan Health Board upgrade the hospital in Ystrad Mynach, I don’t see how it will run with no junior doctors. It will be a waste of £172m. C Davey, Dylan Avenue, Blackwood