Budget delays new £360m hospital

Births were moved to the Royal Victoria Hospital

A £360m women and children's hospital promised for Belfast could face further delays, the health minister has said.

About 5,000 women are using the Royal Maternity Hospital every year. Many say it is no longer fit for the purpose.

It has had to cope with demand that soared when the City's Jubilee maternity unit was closed in 2000.

The new women and children's hospital was promised at that stage. But the health minister said budget restraints meant the project could be put on hold.

On Sunday's Politics Show, Michael McGimpsey said: "This health budget has still to be resolved.

"It is in draft form and if it is resolved around the figures we're at now, I think the likelihood is that it (the new hospital) will go further down the line."

It took to March 2007 for the Royal to come up with a business case for the new hospital, which has required changes and is to be re-submitted in the new year.