NHS Tayside has suspended a number of major building projects amidst uncertainty about future funding from the Government.
The move has emerged after it was announced that plans for a new maternity unit for Montrose would not be going ahead meantime.
NHS Tayside say other projects, including two at Ninewells Hospital, will also be hit.
Health bosses say they are waiting for clarity from the Government about future funding allocations.
The present midwife led service at Montrose will continue.
But service users say they have been surprised by the development as the current facility was classed as not fit for purpose six years ago.
Avril Nicoll, Maternity Users Representative, said: "We were at the stage just a couple of weeks ago where there was another design team meeting as there had been every two weeks and as far as we were aware we kept getting reassurances that even with all the financial difficulties that were around, this project would still go ahead.
"So in that sense it has come as a bit of a shock."
