DUMBARTON and the Vale MSP Jackie Baillie helped deliver a bloody nose to the SNP Government during a Holyrood debate on local health services.

Ms Baillie, along with other political allies, defeated the ruling administration by 64 votes to 62, after Scottish Labour put forward a motion urging the government to step in over a series of proposals to close or downgrade NHS services.

Speculation is rife that Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS, in order to fill a £69m funding gap, will one day close the community birthing unit at the Vale and transfer it elsewhere.

Currently the plan is to end midwife led birthing services in the Vale of Leven Hospital CMU and those proposals are out to public consultation.

But Ms Baillie is opposed to that plans and Labour's motion for the NHS debate highlighted the proposed changes to services at the Vale of Leven Hospital, along with the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Inverclyde Hospital, Monklands Hospital, Lightburn Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children and the Centre for Integrative Care.

Health Secretary Shona Robison insisted that no final decisions had been made about any of the services but the Scottish Conservatives, the Greens and Lib Dems united behind Labour- with the SNP abstaining in the final vote.

Although the motion only calls on the government to step in over the plans, it does not bind the minority administration to any action.

However, last week's defeat puts the government on the back foot when it comes to the proposed changes to services- and the onus will be on ministers to make the final decision.

Ms Baillie, a long serving campaigner of the retention of services at the Vale, especially the birthing unit, said: "No-one can be in any doubt about the importance of the Vale of Leven Hospital to me and all my constituents.

"The health board says that the unit is up for closure because the numbers have dropped, and indeed they have.

"Between 2009 and now, the overall number of women from my area giving birth has dropped by 8 per cent, but the number giving birth at the maternity unit has fallen by nearly 70 per cent, which is a shocking difference.

"That tells me that the health board has not been serious about marketing the CMU.

"When I consulted GP practices, I found out that some did not even know about posters or leaflets.

"Key to the problem is the fact that bookings had been taken out of GPs’ hands and centralised in a telephone line by the health board.

"Since that happened, numbers have declined.

"The health board is closing the unit by stealth. The problem has been entirely manufactured by the health board in order to close the unit, and the cabinet secretary must not be fooled by that."

Scottish Labour argued that the proposals "constitute major changes in service provision" and therefore should be decided on by ministers rather than local health boards and the motion was raised by Labour's Anas Sarwar, who said: "It would be completely unacceptable for the SNP government to sit back and watch vital local services be hit with cuts, closures or downgrades."

But Health Secretary Shona Robison said there was a "robust" system in place for making decisions, adding: "This government remains committed to robust, evidence-based policy making. I am prepared to take difficult decisions where the evidence supports it.

"Local people can be assured that this government will always focus our approach on providing as many services locally as possible, and our record in government stands in stark contrast to that of the previous administration."

Ms Robison put forward an amendment defending the government's position, which was defeated by 64 votes to 62.

SNP members then abstained on the final vote, with Mr Sarwar's motion calling for the changes to be decided by ministers passing by 64 to nil, with 62 abstentions.

A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "The government has ensured that all proposals from NHS boards for any major change to services go through a proper engagement and consultation process, supported by the Scottish Health Council.

"That process is a hugely important part of the decision making process, and it is important it is allowed to complete its work.

"Following the conclusion of that process, and taking account of the views of parliament, we will report back to parliament on the designation of service change proposals."

Margaret McGuire, nurse director, NHSGGC, said: "The engagement process is now open and I would especially encourage women who have used or may use the CMU, and the local community, to share their views on what the board is proposing."

People can send their views about proposed changes to the Vale at Public.Involvement@ggc.scot.nhs.uk