DUMBARTON MSP Jackie Baillie has called on the SNP to "ease pressure" on the NHS after reports of mothers being turned away from Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

Pregnant women were turned away at the doors of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Thursday, January 12 due to a lack of capacity. It was the first time the unit had to close its doors to new admissions since 2009.

Health Secretary Shona Robison is due to consider plans to close birthing units in the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde and transfer all births to the Royal Alexandra Hospital or the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. Ms Baillie said it would be "foolish" to centralise services south of the River Clyde at a time when doctors and midwives are already struggling to cope with demand.

She added: “This is every woman’s worst nightmare. It is completely unacceptable to see women, who are about to give birth, being turned away at the doors of Scotland’s biggest hospital because the wards are full.

"The doctors and midwives in our NHS are under immense pressure and they are not getting the resources they need from SNP Ministers in Edinburgh.

“Maternity services are already at breaking point and it would be foolish and irresponsible to send even more mums-to-be to Paisley and Glasgow.

"The SNP Health Secretary should immediately rule out more centralisation and abandon the proposals to close the maternity units at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde hospitals. Wasting taxpayers’ money on a consultation would only delay the decision for another three months at a time it is already clear to everyone that we need more capacity in our NHS.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have a divert order in place between the QEUH, Royal Alexandra Hospital and the Princess Royal Maternity which was used to manage the high number of admissions.

The Reporter previously featured an article about brave mum Angela MacDonald who lives in Balloch and was sent 70 miles to Fife when doctors thought she was in labour. At the time she expressed her worry over the uncertainty of the situation: "I am terrified anytime I feel I am going into labour because I don't know where I might end up,"

The health secretary was contacted for comment but was unable to give one at time of printing.