Emergency services at Frenchay hospital form part of the review

The plans include creating seven community hospitals and bringing all specialist care for very sick children to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

A consultation period was due to start on Monday and run until 10 December.

A total of 200,000 leaflets are to be circulated about the plans and there will be a series of public meetings. A final decision will be made next year.

The NHS wants to concentrate specialist treatment at major hospitals in the city and offer other services at a number of sites across the area.

The proposals include:

• Seven community hospitals/health centres, including new sites in Frenchay, Southmead, Yate, Kingswood, central and east Bristol.

• The downgrading of either Frenchay or Southmead to community hospital status. This would mean only one of the two hospitals would carry out major surgery.

• Moving specialist care for very sick children from Southmead and Frenchay hospitals to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children within six years.

• Bringing together ear, nose and throat treatment for adult in-patients to Frenchay hospital

• Provide rehabilitation beds for older people recovering from illnesses and major services at centres across the area.

Harry Hayer, programme manager for the Bristol Health Services Plan, said: "We talked to a lot of people before these proposals were drawn up.

"We are now embarking on a wide consultation process so that key decisions can be made."