THE most appropriate location for a new hospital designed to handle Gwent's most seriously ill patients and other complex cases, should be decided by the end of next summer.

That is the timescale for singling out a site for a multi-million pound specialist and critical care centre suggested by the head of Gwent Healthcare Trust, who has not ruled out the possibility that the Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital site might fit the bill.

But trust chief executive Martin Turner has also warned of several issues with the Grange site that could count against it.

The Grange is due to close next September when its remaining long-stay, learning-disabled residents are relocated in community settings.

The site is the subject of a planning application which would see its sale and use for hundreds of homes.

Gwent Community Health Council (CHC), the independent patients' watchdog, contacted the trust after members raised concerns at the housing plan.

They fear a potential, centrally-located site for the specialist and critical care centre may be lost.

Such a centre would be a major part of massive modernisation of Gwent hospital services currently being considered by the trust and the area's Local Health Boards.

This could cost up to £790m and involve the building of several new hospitals and closure or radical reshaping of Newport's Royal Gwent.

In a letter to the CHC, Mr Turner says the trust and LHBs will begin to look at site options for a specialist and critical care centre over the next few months.

"While Llanfrechfa Grange may be on a potential list of options due to its size and location, there are also planning issues and constraints associated with access, listed buildings and tree preservation orders that would impact on its suitability when compared with other potential sites," he said.

In the meantime, the trust is pursuing a planning application for homes on the site, consistent with Torfaen council's Unitary Development Plan.

"This is important if we are to secure the best value for the site on behalf of NHS Wales," said Mr Turner.

"This process is likely to take about 12 months, by which time we will have determined the most appropriate location for the specialist and critical care centre.

"However, the final decision regarding the use of the site will be taken by the Welsh Assembly Government, as they own the site, not the trust."