A 24-hour vigil at the Vale of Leven Hospital designed to put pressure on local politicians and health board officials to preserve the unit has led to campaigners receiving hundreds of signatures to support the beleaguered facility.

The vigil ran from 8am last Friday until 8am on Saturday, with organisers asking supporters to sign a large sheet in efforts to convince decision-makers of the extent of public opinion across West Dunbartonshire backing the unit.

Hospitalwatch's Jim Moohan is behind the event and has been a consistent voice in efforts to preserve health services in a local unit at the Vale.

Speaking to the Reporter, he said: "Our fear is that if the health board with their £169m cuts across the board have a further attack at the Alexandria site, then it could completely collapse the hospital.

"We've lost too many services and needed a remedy from the First Minister and Health Secretary. It is of paramount importance that the Health Secretary shows face to the public of West Dunbartonshire and Argyll, meets with the campaign group and councillors of all parties who are united with us to find a remedy.

"Centralisation of services will kill this hospital, be in no doubt."

The Reporter went along to the vigil on Friday afternoon to ask some of those showing their support why they came along and their views on the future of the Vale of Leven.

Fred Booth, 77, from Helensburgh, was a former chaplain in the hospital in the geriatric ward.

He said: "We must give people locally the opportunity not to go through traumas and anxieties if they've had some reason to have to come to hospital quickly. I remember this hospital from its early stages, and it used to be fantastic with all sorts of services going on.

"It pains me that, little by little, they're chipping away at it."

Frank Deans, 65, from Balloch: "Why should we have to go to Paisley or Glasgow when we've got a facility on our doorstep? For those people out on the peninsula or in remote areas, they have got no chance to get to Paisley if the roads are closed.

Jen Brown, 52, from Dumbarton: "I actually work in the health service as a district nurse in Dumbarton and I think that the state of the maternity unit is a disgrace. The fact that mums in labour are having to go to Paisley is just a shocking state of affairs."

Joanne Fleming, 38, from Dumbarton: "I rely on the emergency services quite a lot and when I use an Epipen, I can't come here and need to go to Paisley. I've tried to come up here before and been sent over there and think that it's a disgrace to be honest."

On Friday afternoon, the vigil's organisers said they had already received hundreds of signatures in support of the campaign and Mr Moohan claimed that local support was strong:

"The response has been very positive. It's been a steady trickle all day of people coming up, paying their respect and giving us their support. Even the staff within the hospital have been out and signing the sheet, giving their thanks to us for carrying on the campaign."

One of the main concern of those at the vigil is the future of the community maternity unit at the hospital.

Regarding the future of that unit, an NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde statement said: "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 wants to ensure that its local maternity plans are consistent with the national strategy. The national review was published in January and the Board’s Medical Director and Nurse Director are ensuring the Board’s proposals remain consistent with the review.