News

The Help Me Quit team are officially back out in the community delivering group face-to-face sessions. Alongside this, you can still opt to have your sessions virtually or via telephone to suit your individual needs.

Please note that to allow us to carry out improvement works, Belle Vue entrance at the Royal Gwent Hospital will be closed for approximately 4 weeks from the week commencing 13th June 2022.

It’s Brain Injury Awareness week, so we caught up with Thomas from the Community Neurological Rehabilitation Service (CNRS). The team offer rehabilitation support to adults in Gwent and Caerphilly after their discharge with a stroke or acquired brain injury to understand their condition, develop and re-learn skills, return to hobbies or employment, optimise quality of life, and increase independence and self-management in the community. 

Dementia Action Week takes place this year between 16^th and 22^nd May 2022.

Staff and patients at Oak and Rowan Wards at County Community Hospital have celebrated the week with lots of meaningful activities, which will greatly benefit patients’ recovery.

A new online map has been launched to help people in Newport find ways to improve their wellbeing. Your Newport is an exciting NEW and FREE online tool that connects people to everything that can help their mental and physical wellbeing in their local area.

Having an unhealthy mouth and decayed teeth affects your overall health. Did you know that gum disease isn't just bad news for your teeth, it's also linked to serious health problems in other parts of your body?

A Victorian Walled Garden, on the site of The Grange University Hospital, has been officially opened to the public.

The Minister for Health and Social Services has confirmed the appointment of Mr Dafydd Vaughan as Independent Member (Digital) for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.

The Referral and Booking Centres at both St Woolos and Nevill Hall have now re-opened on a Saturday between 08:00 and 12:00.

Eid Mubarak to everyone!

"Eid means happiness, comfort and tranquillity in your heart and soul." Here, Farid Khan, Muslim Chaplain at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, explains the true meaning of Eid and offers an Eid blessing.

There will be a telephone outage for 2 hours between 20.00 - 22.00 on Thursday 28th April 2022 at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Birth Centre.  

Thursday 21st April 2022

With less than two weeks left of Ramadan, which is taking place this year between Friday 1^st April and Sunday 1^st May 2022, it's important to know how to fast safely, and which food is best to consume between fasting.

Wednesday 20th April 2022

Audio speaker systems with a push button pad are now available at entrances throughout the Royal Gwent and Grange University Hospitals. The audio speakers will allow anyone who witnesses smoking on site/at entrances to anonymously press the button, which will play a recorded message to remind those who are smoking that it is not permitted.

The new Mynydd Mawr Memorial Garden at Nevill Hall Hospital was officially opened on Saturday 16th April 2022.

Our phone lines are extremely busy at present and call wait times are longer than usual. Please be assured our teams are working hard to answer your call as quickly as possible. 

We are pleased to have been able to reduce visiting restrictions across our hospital sites, however we would like to remind our residents that patients attending the Emergency Department may only bring one person to accompany them. We are, unfortunately, unable to accommodate more than one visitor per patient due to the size of the Emergency Department’s waiting area, and at busy times, we may ask visitors to wait elsewhere if there are space constraints.

Wednesday 6th April 2022

We are pleased to be able to further reduce visiting restrictions from 7th April 2022 across Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.  We are continuing to take a cautious approach due to the prevalence of Covid in the Community but also the numbers of patients we have who are Covid-positive in our hospitals.

The Level 0 entrance (also known as Green Entrance 2) at the Royal Gwent Hospital will be CLOSED until the end of April 2022 due to improvement works.

We’re delighted to invite you to the official opening of the Mynydd Mawr Remembrance Garden- our new and improved baby memorial garden at Nevill Hall Hospital.

The ceremony will take place on Saturday 16th April 2022, at 3pm, at Nevill Hall Hospital.

This week is World Autism Awareness Week so Allan Huxtable-Goy who works in our Theatres Team at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr has shared his diagnosis journey which occurred only at the end of last year.

Join us in cheering on Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr Chef, Ceriann Robbins, on her first full marathon in Manchester on Sunday!

Following our announcement on Tuesday evening, we are pleased to announce that we have now de-escalated from ‘business continuity’ status.

Yesterday, Monday 28^th March 2022, the Health Board held the first Staff Recognition Awards since before the Covid-19 Pandemic began.

Postponed from December 2021, the event- which usually sees colleagues from across the Health Board gathering to celebrate each other’s achievements at the Christchurch Centre in Newport- was held virtually for the very first time.

Thank you to all Gwent residents for your patience, support and questions. Our hospitals and services remain incredibly busy today and we would ask local people to help us by following the advice we issued last night.

The Health Board is under sustained and unprecedented pressure. Despite actions to try to stabilise our services, today we have had to declare a state of ‘business continuity’.

Our Emergency Department at The Grange University Hospital is extremely busy, and we have seen a record number of attendances, and waits to see a doctor, in some cases, are greater than 14 hours where the patient’s condition isn’t life threatening. We have very few beds available across our hospitals to accommodate patients requiring admission.

From Monday 28th March, our Mass Vaccination team will be relocating from Cwmbran Stadium to its new location at the Coleg Gwent Pontypool Campus.

On Wednesday 23rd March 2022, the ‘National Day of Reflection’ organised by Marie Curie, marks the second anniversary of the first Covid-19 lockdown. 

Thursday 17th March the Welsh Government and DHSC announced consultation on the regulations and code of practice for the implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) .

Please note that from the week commencing Monday 21st March 2022, there is likely to be a delay in responding to any messages left on the General Dermatology answer phone, due to staff sickness and isolation in the General Dermatology department.

Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are currently in the process of contacting certain groups of patients on our waiting lists via text message.

A new guide to help Gwent residents choose the right healthcare service will be delivered to homes across the area from today.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has launched the new booklet- entitled NHS Services for you and your Family – to offer advice to residents of the area when they need medical help but are unsure where to go.

We are currently in the process of carrying out improvement works to expand The Grange University Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) and Children’s Emergency Assessment Unit (CEAU).

The Referral and Booking Centre is currently experiencing printing issues, which may result in a delay with some patients receiving their outpatient letters relating to the following specialities:

In honour of it being National Careers Week (7th – 12th March), we met with Arian, a Management Graduate who is currently working in the Health Board and completing a Masters degree through the NHS Wales Management Graduate scheme.

International Women’s Day, on 8^th March, celebrates the achievements of women across the world.

Today, we’re celebrating the achievements of our staff, who accomplish so much every day in their roles.

Making up 81% of our Health Board's workforce, we simply couldn't do what we do without them!

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board appreciates how important it is for patients and their loved ones to see each other whilst they are receiving care in hospital.

When contacting our Referral and Booking team via email, please always remember to include the following information:

The Health Board's Care After Death Team (CAD) lit 1000 tealights outside the Minor Injuries Unit at Nevill Hall Hospital this week.

It’s only two weeks till National No Smoking Day 2022 and we want YOU to say no to smoking!

Women's health topics can often feel awkward or difficult to talk about, so we'll be shining a spotlight on these subjects next month.

Are there any particular themes you'd like us to cover?

The Walled Garden was a hive of industry in the run up to Christmas as volunteers got crafting to generate funds from pop up craft stalls and wreath-making workshops.

A red weather warning has been issued for the Health Board area from 7am tomorrow (Friday 18th February), which means there is a potential danger to life. We are advising that people do not travel unless absolutely necessary.

The Health Board's Mass Vaccination Booking Centre (0300 3031373) will close at 5pm today (Friday 18th February 2022).

Please note that due to the Red Weather Warning in place we will not be operating our mobile testing units on Friday 18th February 2022.

Our area has been issued a red weather warning due to storm Eunice. We will not be running our Covid-19 Vaccination Centres on Friday 18^th February

Today, on International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we're celebrating some of our amazing colleagues.

Meet the team of female scientists at the Royal Gwent Hospital, and learn more about their roles and why they love the parts they play in science and in patient care..

This week, we’re supporting Children's Mental Health Week.

The Royal Gwent in Newport is the first hospital in Wales to become a #LitterFreeZone in a new initiative by Keep Wales Tidy.

On Wednesday 26th January 2022, a number of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board staff, along with members of the local Biffa depot, volunteered to spend 10 minutes of their lunch break litter picking around the Royal Gwent Hospital site.

On Tuesday 15^th February, from 4-5pm, we are holding our first ever engagement session for parents and guardians to speak to our Recovery from COVID-19 Paediatric team.

We’re delighted that nearly £11 million is being invested in a breast cancer ‘centre of excellence’ at Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, which will allow us to improve patient care, experiences and outcomes.

Today, we're celebrating Dydd Miwsig Cymru / Welsh Language Music Day.

Did you know that music can be used as therapy?

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board are pleased to be launching the SignLive service, to support our Deaf and BSL users to access our services.

The following notice has been received by the Health Board to advise you of overnight closures of the A465 Brynmawr to Glanbaiden from Monday 7th February 20:30 - 06:00 each night in both directions.

Patients at The Grange University Hospital's Children's Ward had fun in the Sensory Garden this morning, with a special visit from Mistar Urdd- Urdd Gobaith Cymru's well-known mascot!

Please see the following Welsh Government announcement issued today advising that people who test positive for Covid-19 will be able to leave self-isolation after five full days if they have two negative lateral flow tests.

Dydd Santes Dwynwen hapus/ Happy St Dwynwen's Day!

In aid of today's Welsh Patron Saint of Lovers Day, we received some amazing messages of love and support from pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd, a local Welsh-medium Primary School in Newport.

As they celebrate their love for their local NHS, some of the school's year groups have produced their own drawings, pictures, video messages and signs for our staff (pictured below).

The following walk-in vaccination sessions will be operating for the week commencing Monday 24th January 2022.

Since September 20^th 2021  the Health Board has administered 348,319 Boosters to its local residents.

Public Health Wales, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and Caerphilly County Borough Council are investigating a single case of tuberculosis (TB) in an individual associated with Blackwood Comprehensive School.

It's Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and it's important to know which signs and symptoms of Cervical Cancer to look out for.

In-line with the JCVI Covid-19 vaccination advice for Children and Young People, children aged 5 to 11 who are household contacts of immunosuppressed residents will be offered a primary course of Covid-19 vaccination.

If you smoke and are visiting one of our hospitals, please remember…

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board appreciates how important it is for patients and their loved ones to see each other whilst they are receiving care in hospital.

The Health Board's Referral and Booking Centre is receiving an extremely high number of calls today (Thursday 13th January) which means callers may be waiting longer than usual for their call to be answered.

Help us to help you this winter urges Health Minister Eluned Morgan as more funding to relieve pressures and help the NHS and social care this winter is announced.

Staff and the public are invited to attend a free virtual webinar titled ‘Dementia and the Welsh Language’ on the 25^th of January at 12:00pm until 14:00pm. This webinar from the Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research discusses the impact of dementia and the Welsh language.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board appreciates how important it is for patients and their loved ones to see each other whilst they are receiving care in hospital. We need to carefully balance this with the risk to patients, family members and staff that visiting brings whilst Covid is so rife in the community.

Due to the increasing challenges faced as a result of the new Omicron variant and in order to protect the safety of patients and staff, the Health Board will now be operating essential-only visiting from Monday 10th January 2022.

The positions of Chair, Deputy Chair and six Non-Executive Members for the Citizen Voice Body have been advertised at the following link:

Please note that from 4 January until 1 July 2022, a section of road will be closed near our vaccination centre at General Offices in Ebbw Vale.

The town’s 200 year old Big Arch is undergoing restoration, therefore a section of Steel Works Road (B4485) that passes under the bridge will be closed, both ways, from Lime Avenue to Ebbw Vale Football Club.

Lateral flow tests can be used to check for COVID-19 by anyone who does not have symptoms. The tests are free and can be collected from most pharmacies or a local collection point.

You can also order online for home delivery. You can order 1 home testing kit (7 tests) at a time. Delivery takes 1 to 2 days.

With around 63% of the UK adult population classed as being overweight, the start of the New Year is a time when individuals have good intentions to change to a healthier way of eating. However, this is also a peak time for when social media and celebrities try to influence people to follow the latest diet trend.

Christmas is a time for families to be together, and so we completely appreciate how important it is for families to be able to speak with their loved ones who are patients in our Emergency Department on Christmas Day.

A huge thank you to the year 4 pupils at Glan Usk Primary School in Newport, who have written Christmas letters to the poorly children at The Grange University Hospital as part of their project on Kindness.

Please note that pregnant women can attend any of our Mass Vaccination Centres without an appointment for any of their COVID-19 vaccines.

If you are over 20 weeks pregnant, please walk to the front of the queue, make yourself known to staff and you will be fast tracked as a priority.

A huge thank you to the Community Pharmacists working in our Health Board area, who between January and November this year, have collectively:

Whilst we are trying to deliver as many vaccines as possible during December via the invitation booking system, there is a possibility that we may have some last minute changes to availability.

Due to a number of appointments becoming available at short notice, there is a drop-in session TODAY (Monday 20th December) at the Newport Centre until 2:30pm this afternoon.

This will be for first doses aged 12+, second doses aged 18+ (it must be at least 8 weeks from your first dose) and Boosters (over 30s).

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has made a plea to local residents, asking them to wait to receive their booster vaccination and NOT to contact the Health Board for details of their appointment.

There will be no changes to collection days over the Christmas period, the service will be running as normal.

On Saturday 18th December we will be carrying out a system upgrade at Nevill Hall Hospital which will require a system wide outage from 06:00 to 08:00hrs. During this time the site will have no access to Networks, Telephony or Wifi. 

Today marks one year since our ambitious Mass Vaccination Programme began and we administered our very first Covid-19 vaccinations to our local population, taking our first steps towards protecting Gwent from Coronavirus.

The Outpatient Referral & Booking Centre have made temporary changes to their opening hours. 

As the new Omicron variant of Covid-19 has now reached Wales, please note the change in isolation rules for contacts of Omicron cases.

Today, on Tuesday 7^th December 2021, we are supporting the #maegenihawl Welsh Language Rights Day, where we are promoting some of the Welsh language services that we offer to our patients and staff as part of their Welsh Language Rights.

Funded by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Transport to Health Community Transport Fund, The Parish Trust will be launching their brand new Transport To Health Shuttle Bus from Tuesday 7th December.

The Health Board is proud to announce that its Transport to Health Project has won a national Community Transport Champion Award.

Monday 6th December 2021

Following our Public Board Meeting held on Wednesday 24th November 2021, download the summary of items discussed at the meeting.

Find the meeting's agenda and papers on our Public Board Meetings page.

In light of last week’s announcements from JCVI regarding the expansion of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, we have understandably received a vast amount of queries from our residents about when, where and how they will receive their newly-announced second or booster doses.

A patient in the last few weeks of his life was able to fulfil one of his final wishes by marrying his long term partner last week, as the Palliative Care Team and Ward 4/3 at Nevill Hall Hospital organised their wedding on the ward.

Funded by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board Transport to Health Community Transport Fund, The Parish Trust will be launching their brand new Transport To Health Shuttle Bus from Tuesday 7th December.

We are pleased to announce that the Minister for Health and Social Services has confirmed the appointment of Pippa Britton as Interim Vice-Chair of Aneurin Bevan University Health Board until 31 March 2022.

We are pleased to share with you the Autumn 2021 issue of the newsletter of the Friends of Llanfrechfa Grange Walled Garden.

Earlier today (Friday 26th November), our Interim Chief Executive Glyn Jones, along with staff from Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, was delighted to receive a specially bred rose called the Nye Bevan rose on behalf of the Health Board.

In recognition of Carers Rights Day on 25^th November, the Gwent Carers Regional Partnership Board is proud to support the launch of a digital and BSL version of the successful Young Carers book 'It’s Cool to Care.'

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is delighted that Nevill Hall Hospital has been chosen as the location for a new Radiotherapy Satellite Centre in South East Wales, to help improve cancer care in the area.