MSP Jackie Baillie has reacted angrily to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s decision to delay the consultation on maternity services at the Vale of Leven Hospital until after the election.

Ms Baillie has campaigned against cuts at the Vale maternity unit since the plans were first leaked over a year ago in January 2016.

The SNP accused her of ‘scaremongering’ before the Scottish Parliament election, but after the polls had closed, the health board unveiled formal proposals to close the birthing unit and force local mums-to-be to give birth in Paisley or Glasgow.

Speaking in the Chamber during the parliamentary statement from the Minister for Public Health, Ms Baillie called on the SNP to immediately abandon plans to close the maternity unit and rule it out before the election.

She added that recent threats to cut opening times at the Out of Hours GP services and draft proposals to centralise acute inpatient services in Paisley meant that campaigners should remain vigilant.

She said: "I am furious that the health board is trying to fool us for a second time.

"Last year the health board and SNP Ministers said there were no plans to close the maternity unit, then, after the election, they published their proposals to do exactly that. And they are at it again.

"Kicking any decision into the long grass until after the May election is a deeply cynical act.

"If history repeats itself we will be faced with a formal consultation to close the service straight afterwards.

"I raised this with the Minister in parliament and her response was disappointing.

"Instead of giving a commitment to the maternity service she relied on tired old rhetoric about the past.

"I have always campaigned in the interest of the Vale of Leven hospital, irrespective of which government has been in power, and will continue to do so.

"But our campaign is about more than maternity service – it is important to send a clear message to the health board and the SNP Government that our local hospital will not go down without a fight.

"And what the Ministers response tells me is that our fight must go on to protect all services at the Vale of Leven Hospital."

She added: "Recent threats to cut Out of Hours GPs and other services show that we need to remain vigilant and stand together to defend our local NHS services. The health board is planning to make massive budget cuts in the year ahead and I will continue to speak out to protect our local interests."

Jim Moohan, chairman of Hospitalwatch told the Reporter: "It's total politics. After 13 years the people of West Dunbartonshrie and the Vale deserve a lot more respect from the Scottish government.

"The consultation process before was an absolute farce and the consultation process after the election will be the same and we will suffer the consequences. The health secretary has to acknowledge the massive geographical spread that the Vale services.

"We should not forget that travelling to Paisley is an absolute farce as well. It has caused nothing but turmoil.

The group will a 24-hour vigil starting on Friday April 20 at 8.00am and hope people, young and old, and organisations will turn up and show their support.

A spokesperson responded to these concerns saying: "It is incorrect to claim that we are considering closing the Vale of Leven Community Maternity Unit (CMU).

"In December, Board members voted to move to formal consultation on the proposed changes to birthing services in the CMUs subject to the launch of the national Maternity and Neonatal Services Review.

"NHSGGC want to ensure that its local maternity plans are consistent with the national strategy. The national review was published in January and the Board’s Nurse Director is considering how all the maternity services across NHSGGC will be affected by the recommendations in the National Maternity and Neonatal review."