HOSPITALWATCH campaigners have written an open letter to top brass at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, demanding a meeting over the future of the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Jim Moohan, chairman of the group, wants a face to face meeting with his counterpart at NHS GGC, John Brown, seeking assurances over a range of issues at the hospital.

In his letter Mr Moohan claims the organisation's health board has a "moral obligation" to provide answers and a strategy for future care going forward.

He also warned that the beleaguered hospital is now a "shell of its former self" and functioning "under a cloud of uncertainty."

He said: "It is absolutely clear that in due course we shall reach a stage of non viability to the public purse under the present strategy of centralisation."

Growing anger is brewing among campaigners for the hospital following continued uncertainty over its Community Maternity Unit.

And the future of local out of hours GP services is has also been in the spotlight after a series of weekend closures at the Vale hospital.

In addition, eight operations were cancelled after the hospital boiler went on the blink earlier this year.

A 24 hour vigil was held recently, with around 5,000 signatures, added to a bedsheet, then delivered to the Scottish Parliament in a demonstration of campaigner's resolve, while two public meetings were held recently in Alexandria and Helensburgh to further discuss the hospital's future.

Now Hospitalwatch are cranking up the pressure by demanding a meeting with health board bosses.

Mr Moohan said: "We recently held a 24 hour vigil which resulted in a bed sheet being signed by over 5,000 people young, old, disabled and to their credit hospital staff who work under a cloud of fear and uncertainty.

"That effort was completely ignored by the Heath Secretary and sadly by the Health Board.

"It is unacceptable that it may well take a tragic consequence to occur before we have answers to our concerns."

He added: "There is a moral obligation and duty on the Health Board to give answers and a strategy for our future life care going forward.

"Community meetings held in Alexandria and Helensburgh on 26th June and 3rd July 2017 are demanding immediate action and answers from the Health Board and the Scottish Government- and not to be left waiting under the disguise of formal consultation."

His letter to John Brown adds: "Our first request on behalf of these communities is to meet with your office at your earliest convenience to take this matter forward."

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said yesterday: "The chairman has received Hospitalwatch’s letter and will be happy to meet.

"The board has already confirmed its commitment to the Vale of Leven Hospital. Indeed, the Chairman wrote to the Dumbarton Reporter personally in April offering his re-assurance to your readers that the Vale of Leven Hospital does have a long term future and will continue to play an important part in the delivery of healthcare in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

"The Board remains totally committed to providing a high quality OOH service to all communities across Greater Glasgow and Clyde. This commitment clearly extends to the population currently served by the Vale GP OOH service."