PLANS to downgrade the RAH children's ward and close the birthing unit at the Vale of Leven would be a "double whammy" for struggling families in Dumbarton and the Vale.

MSP Jackie Baillie has promised that any proposals would face "intense scrutiny" as part of a full public consultation.

She warned that moving services to the south side of Glasgow would "pile on the pressure" for parents already struggling with poor transport links to Paisley.

The claims come as health board bosses announced a three month consultation process over the future of Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Ms. Baillie stresses said: “Life is stressful enough as it is for families with a sick child and moving services even further away to the south side of Glasgow would pile on the pressure for parents who already struggle with poor transport links to Paisley. Taken alongside the proposals to close the birthing unit at the Vale of Leven, families in Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven are facing a double whammy of cuts to our NHS.

“The cuts at the RAH have been identified as a Major Service Change, which means that they will be subject to intense scrutiny in a full public consultation and the SNP Health Secretary will have the final say on whether to approve or reject the proposals. We must demand the same process for the Vale of Leven Hospital. It would be completely unfair if the SNP Government steps in to make the decision about the RAH in Paisley while letting the health board cut services at the Vale against the wishes of local people. The SNP must stand by their pre-election promises to deliver Vision for the Vale and protect local services.”

In a statement, the health board said: "The Board today listened to the issues raised during an engagement process to shape the future of paediatric services at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) and agreed the strong clinical case for change should now proceed to a public consultation.

"The Board today approved the commencement of a formal three month consultation process which will get underway in early November 2016 and will conclude in February 2017.

"The engagement process involved the establishment of a Stakeholder reference Group (SRG), patients, families, healthcare professionals and interested groups who all provided comments on the proposal to move the Paediatric Inpatient Services from Ward 15 at the RAH to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

"Through the engagement we have been able to share the clinical case for change with a wide range of interests. We have been able to establish a better understanding of what is proposed and why. We have been able to reassure people that the majority of services children’s services will still be provided at the RAH, including community services, outpatients and self referral to Accident and Emergency.

"This proposal has been informed by an option appraisal involving a range of interested parties, including parents, carried out by the board in 2012. The option appraisal concluded that the clinical case had been made for transferring the inpatient and day case services to the new RHC and that clinical case for change was reported to the Board today.

"The majority of paediatric activity including outpatient services, the specialist Community Paediatric service (PANDA), and emergency care for those who self-refer would all remain at the RAH.

Catriona Renfrew, Director Planning and Policy, NHSGGC, said: “The engagement process involved a range of stakeholders who all shared their views on what the board is proposing.

“The Board today approved a formal consultation process beginning early November and we will now work with the SRG, who has agreed to meet to continue to provide advice, to develop the detail of the consultation process.

“Information on how to provide input on the consultation process will be widely available over the coming weeks.”