Cheltenham General Hospital could lose its Battledown Children's Ward

At present, care for sick babies and youngsters is duplicated at both main hospitals in Cheltenham and Gloucester.

But health chiefs fear this spreads staff and resources too thinly for the safety of mothers and children.

The county's Primary Care Trusts think expertise should be concentrated at Gloucester, meaning the likely closure of Cheltenham's Battledown Ward.

Consultation period

There has been a fierce campaign in the town to save the 26-bed ward after earlier suggestions that it could close.

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital is the preferred option for specialist services because it is already replacing its Victorian facilities with a purpose-built children's unit.

While high dependency and neo-natal intensive care would be centred at one hospital, home and community nursing for children would be developed at the other.

Both would continue to have special care baby units and children's assessment facilities.