NHS bosses are investing almost £650,000 in upgrading facilities at the Vale of Leven Hospital, even as they try to close the birthing unit.

Health board officials announced a "comprehensive" programme of works lasting 20 weeks that would include basics such as a new protected corridor, improvement to fire doors and escapes, emergency lighting upgrades and enhanced fire detection.

Floors and subfloors around the Lomond War would also be replaced, they said.

The investment comes despite NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde planning to move the birthing unit to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley or the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow in a bit to patch the board's £69 million budget deficit.

David Loudon, NHSGGC’s director of facilities said: “The safety of our staff, patients and visitors is our priority and this programme of works will ensure the hospital has the latest in fire detection technology.

"We will do our very best to keep disruption to a minimum for patients and staff while this investment work is carried out.”

MSP Jackie Baillie welcomed the new funding but questioned it against the ongoing threats to the hospital.

She said: "This investment is long overdue. It is of course welcome. The money covers routine maintenance and I look forward to future announcements about investments in services at the Vale of Leven Hospital."

Ms Baillie has urged the SNP government to block the proposals to shift services from the Vale of Leven.

Last week she used a Members' Business debate in the Scottish Parliament to highlight the threats to the Vale and the 2009 Vision for the Vale agreement, signed by the then health secretary Nicola Sturgeon. It promised maternity services would be "sustained and promoted" and a marketing campaign would boost the number of births at the midwife-led unit.

Current health secretary Shona Robison said no decision had been made about the proposals as yet.