Trust reveals city health plans

By Dot Kirby
BBC NI health correspondent

A radical shake-up proposed for health and social care in Belfast by the city's healthcare trust is being put out to public consultation.

The downgrading of the Mater Hospital's maternity department and closure of two psychiatric units in Belfast are among the proposed changes.

Seven health and well-being centres are planned by 2010, which will in future hold many hospital outpatient clinics.

Hospitals will lose some services, but develop other specialisms.

The Mater is likely to close its inpatient psychiatric beds and obstetric births will move to the Royal Hospital.

In future only midwives at the Mater will deliver babies, but the hospital will run many specialist clinics and become the regional eye centre.

The Royal will continue to be the place to go to for major acute care - like heart surgery and trauma.

The City Hospital will stay as the cancer centre, but in the long-term it will also take over much of Musgrave Park's current orthopaedic work - surgery like hip and knee replacements.

It will become the main hospital for many chronic conditions and for planned surgery.