A seriously ill Abergavenny man could not get vital medical assistance after his careworkers were blocked off from visiting his home during the Velothon, despite having special passes.

The 84-year-old man, who suffers with both debilitating Parkinson’s disease, and kidney disease, went without help for hours after Velothon organisers stopped health workers from getting to the his Llanellen home on Sunday.

His daughter Angela Brown, said the incident was ‘unbelievable’, given that her father’s carers had arranged to have special passes which should have allowed them to pass through the road block in Llanellen and provide vital care for her father.

Careworkers visit Mr Brown’s home three times per day as he requires round-the-clock care. After making their way to his address on Sunday morning ready for their 9.45am slot, they were blocked from going any further.

Mrs Brown said the two workers from Allied Healthcare pleaded with a race organiser before they were finally allowed to pass through - three hours late.

Angela, a retired nurse, said her father was ‘lucky’ she was at his house at the time, as his medical conditions demand constant care.

“I am not usually one to complain, but in this instance, I am very angry with what happened. My father, who is a very sick man, could not get the care he needs as his carers were stopped from seeing him for his morning appointment,” she said .

“He has late-stage Parkinson’s disease and kidney disease. His carers come to his home three times per day – once in the morning, the afternoon, and evening.

“On Sunday, they could not see him as they were blocked off by the Velothon. They had passes to get through, but were still not allowed through the barriers to see my father, who is a very ill man.

“Eventually, after three hours, they were told they could go through, but not before they got some abuse from the man who let them pass.

“I am not against the Velothon, in any way. I’m all for anything that benefits Abergavenny. I’m not one of those who moans and whinges, but something has to be done.

“Luckily, I was there with him. So, I could have helped out in a serious emergency, but this can’t happen. He’d get very ill, very quickly if he were to be denied his medication.”

Carers were eventually allowed through the barrier, but not until frantic calls from a manager at Allied Healthcare’s Ebbw Vale branch pleaded with the organiser involved, who is yet to be named.

The Chronicle learned that the incident ‘took hours’ to sort out, meaning Mr Brown went without his vital morning care routine.

Due to company policy and the nature of their work, Allied Healthcare respectfully declined to comment.

A Velothon Wales spokesperson, said, “While the unprecedented support from local communities made this year’s Velothon Wales the most successful yet, we understand there were a small number of incidents around road closures and crossing points.

“We employed special measures to help those in need get across the route, but if there was any confusion, we apologise.

“We worked closely with the five council bodies involved to take lessons from the previous years and develop alternative measures that provided a safe environment for the participants as well as minimising the impact on local residents and businesses.

“Large sections of the route were reopened, where it was safe to do so, between the amateur sportive and the professional race.”

The third Velothon Wales saw more than 9,000 riders zipping through Abergavenny over the weekend. The race returns next year.