The 150-bed hospital is to remain open under reorganisation plans

Plans to move coronary care and breast surgery services from the 150-bed hospital are currently out to public consultation.

A 17,000 signature petition was handed over at the protest outside the hospital's main gates.

Health officials say they plan to concentrate specialisms at the region's three main hospitals instead.

Plaid Cymru group leader on Conwy County Council Cllr Gareth Jones was speaking at the protest at 1400 BST on Saturday.

He said they had received an "amazing response" to the party's petition, with over 3,000 households confirming their opposition to "this outrageous plan to downgrade Llandudno hospital".

What we are saying is that Llandudno will stay open Andrew Butters

"The message is clear to me - the people of Llandudno built this hospital and the vast majority are united in opposition to any plans to downgrade it further."

Independent Llandudno town councillor Doreen Websell helped organise the protest.

She said a large number of people were expected to attend the demonstration, including representatives from Llandudno Hospital League of Friends and local councillors.

Cllr Websell said: "We're expecting a lot of people here, including a lot of councillors.

"It's only the first round of the World Cup - it's not the final."

Blood disorder

She said she was worried the hospital was being downgraded.

"I go to Llandudno hospital every week - mainly because I have a blood disorder. I can see the hospital is going down," she said.

Public consultation on plans to move the three coronary care beds and the breast surgery department - which treats up to 600 women each year - ends later this month.

Andrew Butters, project director for the north Wales secondary care review, said the plan was to concentrate the specialisms at the three district general hospitals serving the area.

Patients needing emergency coronary care in the Llandudno area would be treated at either Glan Clwyd or Bangor hospitals - between 20 and 30 minutes away in an ambulance - under the plans.

"People should be seen by a specialist cardiac unit offering 24-hour care and that cannot be done at Llandudno," said Mr Butters.

Similarly, he said patients would be able to receive the most modern breast cancer treatment at the district hospitals, including providing facilities for reconstructive surgery.

"What we are saying is that Llandudno will stay open," Mr Butters added.

"It has a strong future as a local hospital, doing a wide range of outpatient diagnostic sessions, day care surgery and also non-acute care."

A spokesperson for the Welsh Assembly Government said tplans to downgrade services at Llandudno hospital were still in the consultation period.