The CHC landscape in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
The South Wales Valleys face some of the most entrenched health inequalities in the UK. Aneurin Bevan's catchment includes communities with multiple layers of deprivation — unemployment, educational attainment gaps, housing instability and poor air quality all contribute to dramatically higher rates of chronic illness and disability. This means CHC assessments in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen often involve multiple comorbidities and complex social needs that can prolong the assessment process beyond the national target of 4 weeks.
The health board operates four main acute hospital sites: the modern Grange University Hospital in Newport (opened 2020) handles most tertiary care, while Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan in Ebbw Vale serves the northern valleys. Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport remains a key site for some services. For families in the western valleys (Merthyr side), accessing hospital services can require travel across council boundaries to Cardiff or Swansea, complicating evidence gathering for CHC applications.
A critical Welsh framework difference that affects Aneurin Bevan residents: the retrospective CHC claims window is only 12 months from the request date, compared to April 2012 in England. This is particularly harsh for families in economically deprived areas where formal diagnosis and medical engagement may have been delayed due to barriers like transport, language, or health literacy. Document any attempts to access CHC before the retrospective 12-month window closes.
Aneurin Bevan operates under Wales's Integrated Care Partnership model (introduced 2022), which involves tighter coordination between health boards and local authorities. This can be positive for families who have adult social care involvement, but it also means CHC assessments are more influenced by local authority partners' capacity and priorities than in England's purely NHS-led model.
CHC approval statistics for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Source: NHS England official CHC statistics, 2024/25 · Rank — of 36 ICBs in England
Standard approval rate
—
National avg: —
Assessments completed
—
— found eligible
Fast-track approved
—
of — fast-track assessments
Local review requests
—
2024-25
Currently receiving CHC
—
Snapshot Q3 2025/26
England rank
— / 36
1 = lowest approval rate
How Aneurin Bevan University Health Board compares — 2024/25
How to apply for CHC funding in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Aneurin Bevan University Health Boardmanages Continuing NHS Healthcare under the Welsh national framework, which differs from England's in several important ways.
Step 1: Request a CHC screening
You can request a CHC Checklist screening at any time — in hospital, at home, or in a care home. Contact your GP or the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board CHC team on 01873 732 733 to start the process. In Wales, the Checklist is optional — the health board may move directly to a full DST assessment.
Step 2: The Decision Support Tool assessment
A multidisciplinary team (two health professionals and one social worker) will carry out a comprehensive assessment using the Decision Support Tool. This evaluates your needs across 12 care domains plus "Other Significant Needs."
Step 3: The eligibility decision
The health board makes the final decision on whether the person has a "primary health need." If eligible, the NHS funds the full package of care.
Advocacy tips for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
These tips are specific to applying for CHC in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area.
action
Understand the 12-month retrospective window. In Wales, you can only claim CHC funding back to 12 months before your request date. Do not delay — if your relative has been unfunded for more than 12 months, that period is lost. Request retrospective CHC immediately upon recognition of primary health need.
action
Request all CHC assessment materials in Welsh if that is your family's preferred language. Your legal right to Welsh-language services is enshrined in the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011. Email abhb.enquiries@wales.nhs.uk stating this preference clearly from the first contact.
action
Be aware that the South Wales Valleys faces significant social deprivation overlaid with complex health needs. If your relative's condition involves mental health, addiction, housing instability, or unemployment alongside a physical health need, make sure the MDT panel understands how these domains interact — health professionals sometimes underweight social factors that actually drive care complexity.
action
If your relative uses hospitals across council boundaries (e.g., Merthyr residents going to Cardiff for tertiary care), ensure medical records from both Aneurin Bevan and the receiving hospital system are included in the CHC dossier. Coordinate evidence gathering proactively rather than waiting for the health board to request cross-border records.
action
Request the Complex Care Specialist Nurse's contact details early. Aneurin Bevan employs dedicated nurses who help assess eligibility and can provide continuity during the assessment. Building this relationship early often leads to smoother assessments.
Hospital trusts in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
These are the main NHS trusts whose patients may be assessed for CHC in this area. If your relative is being discharged from one of these hospitals, ask the ward about CHC screening.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (operates all hospitals)
Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan (Ebbw Vale), Royal Gwent Hospital (Newport), Grange University Hospital (Llanfrechfa, Newport), Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (Caerphilly)
Contact Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Phone
01873 732 733Website
Visit website →Address
Cwmbran House, Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool, NP4 0YP
Children's CHC
abhb.childrens.chc@wales.nhs.ukVisit the official Aneurin Bevan University Health Board CHC page →
Frequently asked questions
What hospitals does Aneurin Bevan operate, and how do I gather evidence from them?
Aneurin Bevan operates Grange University Hospital (Newport, opened 2020), Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan (Ebbw Vale), Royal Gwent Hospital (Newport), and Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr (Caerphilly). For CHC evidence, request medical records proactively from the hospital where your relative received care, as waiting for the health board to request them can add weeks to your timeline. Hospital discharge summaries and outpatient records are particularly important.
How does deprivation in the South Wales Valleys affect my CHC assessment?
The Valleys face multiple layers of deprivation that correlate with higher rates of chronic disease, disability and complex social needs. If your relative's health needs are entangled with social factors (housing, unemployment, limited transport), make sure the MDT panel explicitly considers how these factors drive the need for primary health care rather than social care. Don't assume professionals will make the connection.
Can I appeal an Aneurin Bevan CHC decision, and to whom?
Yes. Stage 1 is local review by Aneurin Bevan itself (target: 4 weeks). If you disagree, request Stage 2: an Independent Review Panel (target: 4 weeks). If still unsatisfied, escalate to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales — this is the final stage and is unique to Wales. You can challenge both the process followed and the substantive decision. Act quickly given the 12-month retrospective window.
Does Aneurin Bevan offer Welsh-language CHC assessments?
Yes. Under the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011, you have a legal right to request CHC assessment and correspondence entirely in Welsh. Request this when you first contact the health board (email abhb.enquiries@wales.nhs.uk or phone 01873 732 733). The health board must provide Welsh-speaking staff for panel meetings and must provide all documents in Welsh.