CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the gradual erosion of services at Vale of Leven Hospital have reacted with fury after learning of another snub from Health Minister Shona Robison.

The SNP health supremo sneaked into West Dunbartonshire last Monday- for a PR stunt at the multi million pound Golden Jubilee Hospital, Clydebank.

Ms Robison spent the morning at the £180m state-of-the-art hospital to see first hand the latest developments in their expanding, redesigned, ophthalmology service.

Ms Robison is understood to have viewed a live demonstration of the hospital's pilot 'telehealth project' with NHS Fife, an innovative collaboration which allows patients to attend their local hospital for a high tech consultation by secure video link, reducing their travel time and speeding up access to treatment for people all across the country.

However, Hospitalwatch campaigners are furious that the minister did not take time out of her schedule to travel the 12 and a half miles west to see the crumbling services on offer at the Vale too.

Campaigners have tried on previous occasions to meet the minister in person to register their concerns over the beleaguered hospital's future.

But those attempts have fallen on deaf ears.

Their latest attempt came three weeks ago when a delegation travelled to Holyrood to deliver a 5,000 signature bedsheet from those who turned out at the recent 24-hour Vale hospital vigil.

The hospital's future has serious question marks hanging over its future with the possible closure of the CMI (Community Maternity Unit).

There also also plans to close the GP Out of Hours service at the Vale during week days and the Pharmacy service.

MSP Jackie Baillie labelled Ms Robison's sneak visit to the Golden Jubilee hospital in Clydebank as a "slap in the face" to all those who are concerned about the future of the Vale.

She said: "This is yet another slap in the face for local NHS campaigners just two weeks after SNP Ministers refused to meet them in Holyrood.

"It is disgraceful that the Health Secretary is visiting West Dunbartonshire without bothering to listen to the Hospitalwatch campaign about their concerns over the future of our local health services.

"The threat of cuts has been hanging over the Vale of Leven Hospital for over a year and SNP Ministers have used every excuse under the sun to avoid coming face-to-face with local patients.

"The SNP have been in charge of our NHS for 10 years and sooner or later Shona Robison needs to come out of hiding and defend her record of cuts at the Vale of Leven Hospital."

Chairman of Hospitalwatch Jim Moohan said: "For the health secretary to snub us for a second time, while she's in touching distance of the Vale of Leven Hospital, sends out a picture of complete isolation.

"This was an opportunity for Shona Robison to pitch-up and meet the people campaigning to try to save the Vale hospital's future but she had failed to take it.

"I think there is now something underlying because it now seems the government are intend on this 'arm's length' approach when it comes to the Vale.

"This was a chance for her to meet our campaign group and once again she had failed to take it. It's disappointing."

Fellow Hospitalwatch campaigner Rev Ian Miller said: it was a "monumental own goal" for Robison to dodge a meeting with campaigners recently and that last week's visit to the high-tech Golden Jubilee only served to rub salt into the wounds.

Rev Miller continued: "She rubs salt in the wound by making sure she takes the photo op at the Jubilee whilst refusing to engage with those who have concerns about the cut backs faced by their hospital just a few miles down the road."

The defiant Rev Miller added: "The fight will go on. We will not go away. She might just consider the fact that, though we would like her support, she also needs ours."

Cabinet secretary for health Shona Robison said the government remained "committed to maintaining and improving services" at the Vale of Leven hospital, adding: "I have been consistently clear that this Government sees a bright future for the hospital, which plays a crucial role in the local healthcare system."

And a Scottish Government spokesperson added: "Ms Robison has recently been in touch with the campaign group to reassure them that she is fully aware of the strength of local feeling in support of the Vale of Leven Hospital.

"It is the responsibility of health boards to ensure that services are provided safely and the Cabinet Secretary has recently sought assurances from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde about the continued provision of comprehensive hospital, community and primary care services across the whole of the Clyde area, but particularly at the Vale of Leven hospital. That remains a priority."