Bristol hospital 'may close'

Frenchay is thought to be in line for closure

Bristol's hospitals face a major shake-up, with the possibility that one will close and all children's services will be merged into one unit.

Health bosses say that having three different hospitals in the city providing the same services is no longer viable.

Frenchay, Southmead and the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) are under the spotlight, with Frenchay most likely to close, according to BBC Points West's health correspondent Matthew Hill.

He says it would be difficult to get planning permission to expand the site, and that the city council would not countenance the closure of the BRI or Southmead due to the impact this would have on the city economy.

September announcement

New government guidelines also mean hospital bosses have to concentrate all in-patient services for children in particular hospitals.

The BRI is thought to best suited for this, because of its new on-site Children's Hospital.

Hugh Ross, from the Bristol Health Services Plan, told the BBC: "They need to change. The system is designed for the way things used to be.

"Local people want services in the community.

"We need to think hard about how we organise our hospital services in the future," he added.

A decision on the shake-up will be announced in September, followed by a period of public consultation.