A rehabilitation unit in the Royal Victoria Hospital which cares for elderly patients is to close, the BBC has learned.

Some of the service will be transferred to the main hospital

The Elliot Dynes Centre, which treats men and women who have suffered a stroke, could shut its doors by the end of March.

The centre's kitchen unit was shut in December, but staff said they were not expecting its wards to close so soon.

The centre can currently care for up to 48 people.

There are plans, however, to transfer some of the services to the Royal's main hospital, with the rest rolled out into the community.

Ray Rafferty, from the trade union Unison, said modernising health care only works if funding in the community is available.

"Clinically, as far as care for the elderly is concerned, the latest thesis is that care is better within the community," he said.

"Provided the funding follows the patients into the community."

When contacted by the BBC, a spokesperson for the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said they were unable to comment as they unaware of any such plans.