Dumbarton and the Vale MSP Jackie Baillie has slammed the decision to close a Glasgow children's ward used by families across the area.

The ward at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened just two years ago, but has been temporarily closed until July 17 at the earliest due to issues with staffing on the unit.

The announcement of the closure comes after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced their plans to close the children's unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Ms Baillie said: “Families in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond are served by the children’s wards in Paisley and Glasgow. One is under threat of permanent closure and the other has been closed for two weeks at the start of the school holidays.

“Labour has been saying for months that our NHS work-force are undervalued, under-resourced and overworked. The decision to cut training numbers has resulted in devastating consequences, leaving even more pressure on staff, services cut and now an actual ward closing.

“These closures are not down to clinical need but a failure to properly manage our NHS. It is simply not good enough. Shona Robison is clearly out of her depth and we need the Government to wake up to what’s happening in our NHS. What will it take before they do?”