MSP Jackie Baillie says new documents obtained through Freedom of Information laws show a 'failure' to properly promote maternity services at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Internal papers released to the local politician reveal that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has not recorded any promotional activity since 2011.

And the board’s own evaluation exercise found that its marketing strategy for the Community Maternity Unit had very little impact.

Ms Baillie said: “These documents prove what many local people in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh have already suspected for a long time. The Vision for the Vale promised a high-profile marketing campaign to increase birth numbers at the Vale of Leven Hospital but the SNP Government and the health board have failed to deliver.

“These papers show that, in private, health board officials are prepared to admit that their low-impact publicity materials were barely noticed by local parents and mums-to-be. Even when they asked mums and dads for advice on how to spread the word about the unit, it appears that they did not even listen to their suggestions of putting up posters in shops and cafes."

A spokesperson for NHS GGC said: "In 2008 it was agreed as part of our commitment to deliver the Vision for the Vale that we would market the Vale of Leven CMU for the next three years to increase the number of mums who gave birth there.

"As is acknowledged by Ms Baillie we did fully comply with this commitment.

"A range of posters and leaflets were developed along with a special website highlighting services available from the CMU at the Vale of Leven. Local mums-to-be were able to visit the website to “virtually” meet the midwives, hear first hand from mothers who chose to deliver their babies at the unit, access information leaflets, take a virtual tour of the unit or even book their own personal visit.

“Despite all the work we undertook to market the unit over the next three years the number of mums-to-be choosing the unit to give birth continued to decline.

“Mums-to-be were choosing to give birth in consultant led units.”

And a Scottish Government spokesperson added: “The national review of maternity and neonatal services was published at the end of January and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde are currently considering their proposals for the birthing units at Inverclyde and the Vale in light of the review’s recommendations.

“It remains the case that any proposals designated as major service change must be subject to formal public consultation and, ultimately, Ministerial approval.”