BED numbers at Chepstow Community Hospital have been reduced as part of a trial to test new care models.

There are now 12 fewer beds at the hospital, which had previously 84, as the Aneurin Bevan Health Board tests out new practices for patients and trialling separate wards for men and women.

An Aneurin Bevan Health Board spokesman said: “We are currently testing some new models of care at Chepstow Community Hospital to improve dignity for our patients, the working environment, and also patient flow into Chepstow from the larger hospitals in the area.

“This work includes having two separate male and female wards, to achieve this we’ve reduced bed capacity by 12 beds across both wards, we are able to increase and decrease the number of beds up and down relatively quickly in order to respond to demand. We are constantly monitoring the impact of these changes to ensure we continue to provide high-quality accessible patient care.”

But Thornwell Cllr Armand Watts was critical.

He said: “There has been absolutely no dialogue with the county councillors about this issue.

“That hospital was set up for the community and it is slowly becoming a glorified health centre.”

The community hospital provides primary, community and secondary care. It was opened in 2000, as part of the UK Government’s Private Finance Initiative. It is also the base for district nurses and health visitors working in and around Chepstow.