Specialist services would be located at three main hospitals

Local people fear that the unit could be downgraded.

Conwy council leaders said had been told that the hospital's coronary unit could close and its breast cancer services would transfer elsewhere.

Health officials said the hospital would retain many services but a review aims to concentrate specialisms at the region's three main hospitals.

Councillor Ronnie Hughes, chairman of Conwy's scrutiny committee, said he was "disappointed" after the meeting with the NHS trust project director in charge of the hospital review in north Wales.

He said afterwards that he was worried that the coronary care unit at the hospital would close and breast cancer care services moved.

Mr Hughes, who represents Llandudno, said: "Two years ago, the breast cancer service was rated as the best in Wales if not the UK, so I can't understand why they'd want to move it."

He said he was sure local people would make their voices heard and "bombard" health officials with questions during the consultation period, which starts in April.

Project director for the north Wales secondary care review Andrew Butters said the proposed changes at Llandudno would free up �23m to improve NHS buildings and services throughout north Wales.

The review could also see the closure of HM Stanley hospital at St Asaph and Abergele hospital.

Specialist skills

Mr Butters said: "This is a vision for the future of health care in north Wales over the next 20 years."

Future health care would focus on keeping patients out of hospital as much as possible, he said, concentrating on managing conditions better at home.

Specialist skills - such as coronary care, breast surgery and stroke rehabilitation - would then be grouped together at the three general hospitals at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan and Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Mr Butters said Llandudno hospital had a future and would retain "many, many NHS services".

The secondary care review will go out to consultation on 3 April with all interested parties invited to submit their comments by 26 June.

It involved all six local health boards and the three NHS trusts across North Wales.