Health bosses have promised residents will not be turned away from the Vale of Leven hospital if they haven’t called NHS 111 prior to attending.

Campaign group Hospitalwatch met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) officials for talks after an Alexandria woman – who nearly died from sepsis – was turned away from the Vale hospital following a phone call mix-up.

Douglas Maclean had tried to get medical attention for his wife Valerie after a boil on her back grew from the size of a pea to the size of a tennis ball in a matter of hours.

The 60-year-old, who had called NHS 24 in advance, had pleaded with staff at the Vale hospital to admit Valerie, as she sat on the pavement in agony.

But he was turned away and told to go the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where the NHS 24 operator had meant to send them after instructing them to attend at the ‘Alexandria hospital’.

He managed to get an urgent taxi to the RAH where she waited a further 45 minutes to be seen.

The health board has since apologised but Jim Moohan of Hospitalwatch and Dumbarton’s MSP Jackie Baillie have led calls for action to ensure it never happens again.

Mr Moohan said: “The health board totally understood that people were hanging on to NHS 24 for 90 minutes at times which, from our position for the community, was totally unacceptable.

“People can now go up, press the buzzer, tell the individual inside what their problem is and they will be asked if they have contacted NHS 24 prior.

"Even if they haven’t they will be allowed entrance. That is a big change.

“That could have had tragic consequences. The message has now been hammered home loud and clear.

"If this can stop that kind of outrageous situation happening then everybody will be happy.”

Ms Baillie added: “It is unacceptable that local people have not been able to access emergency care either due to the delays in getting through to NHS 111 or due to rules that force people to remain outside until they have an appointment.

"The health board has promised that it won’t happen again.”

A spokesman for NHSGGC said: “It is important that patients continue to access services at the Vale of Leven Hospital through the agreed routes, including calling 111 before accessing MIU or the GP out of hours service.

“However, it was confirmed that screening at the external door will be purely for the purposes of determining whether patients have Covid symptoms or not.

"This is for the safety and wellbeing of patients and staff alike.”