PLANS to move a podiatry clinic in a Monmouthshire town to a venue six miles away could make it difficult for elderly patients to attend, say health watchdogs.

Gwent Community Health Council will urge health bosses to look again for an alternative facility in Usk to host the weekly clinic.

Gwent Healthcare Trust wants to relocate the clinic from its current base at the town's James House GP surgery, due to restrictions on using its treatment room.

But a proposal to move it to Raglan surgery has met opposition.

Around 90 patients use the weekly half-day service, many in their 80s and 90s.

Some do not mind the change, but many told the CHC they will be unable to attend at Raglan or be seriously inconvenienced, mainly due to transport issues.

The clinic provides a range of foot care services vital in helping many patients, particularly the elderly, maintain good mobility.

The trust fears restrictions at James House, meaning only six patients can be seen per session, will make waiting times targets for this service - falling to maximum 13 weeks by December 2009 - extremely difficult to meet.

The Raglan option would double podiatry clinic provision there to two half-day sessions a week.

The CHC will finalise its position at a special Monmouthshire area committee meeting on Monday January 28, at Usk's Glan-yr-afon Hotel, at 4.30pm. Patients and public are welcome.

A CHC report recommends that Monmouthshire Local Health Board and the podiatry service look again at alternative sites in Usk, despite the trust claiming there are none suitable.

It also wants future plans for a primary care resource centre in Usk to include a podiatry suite capable of serving Usk and surrounding communities, including Raglan.