The closure of south Belfast's Jubilee Maternity Hospital seven years ago has so far failed to trigger a promised £360m women and children's hospital, which now looks like facing further delays.

Former Health Minister, Sinn Fein's Bairbre de Brun made the original, hotly disputed decision to close the Jubilee – located at the City Hospital - in order to centralise maternity services in her own constituency at west Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

Now, about 5,000 women are using the single facility at the Royal Maternity Hospital every year, which many say it is no longer fit for the purpose.

It is said to be struggling to cope with demand that soared when the Jubilee closed.

The new women and children's hospital was promised at that stage. But the current Health Minister has indicated that budget restraints meant the project could be put on hold.

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Ulster Unionists, 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 has taken until March 2007 for the Royal to come up with a business case for the new hospital, which has since required changes and is now to be resubmitted in the New Year.

However, seven years ago the 'City' was already past the planning stage as the Director of planning at Belfast's City Hospital, Pat Haines, said: "The site originally proposed for a combined maternity unit remains available.

"Our primary concern has always been to ensure that women receive the best possible maternity and gynaecology services.

"The Trust has presented a strong case for siting these on the City Hospital campus."

When she announced her decision to site maternity services in her own constituency of west Belfast, Ms de Brun had insisted it was not politically motivated.

She was however in dispute with members of her own Assembly Health Committee on the issue – but after several High Court actions, and appeals, the Jubilee was knocked down and the site used for the construction of the NI Regional Cancer Centre.

(BMCC)