Protesters unite to oppose cuts

Protesters have previously gathered outside the Scottish Parliament

Hospital campaigners from across the country have staged a rally to protest against cuts to local services.

Protesters called on health boards and politicians in affected areas across Scotland to listen to the strength of public opposition.

The organisers of the Glasgow rally said it marked the start of a long-term campaign to make sure people have their say on health services.

Proposed changes at three Scottish hospitals have already been scrapped.

First the Queen Mother's Maternity Unit in Glasgow, then emergency services at Oban and Fort William were saved from the axe.

But experts said it may be harder to persuade health boards - and Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm - to reverse decisions on more than 20 other hospitals around Scotland.

'Needs of the people'

They believe that new pay deals for staff, the specialisation of medicine, caps on doctors' hours and a declining birth rate mean it will be extremely difficult to find a way to keep them open on a safe and affordable basis.

Among those attending Saturday's rally in George Square were Scottish Conservative Party Leader David McLetchie and Scottish Socialist Party Leader Tommy Sheridan.

Organisers of the rally issued a statement ahead of the event in which they said: "The National Health Service belongs to the people and needs the people to keep it safe.

"In recent years health boards seem to have lost their way. Instead of involving and listening to the public on what they need and want from their health service they have chosen to propose and plan changes which the public sees are wrong.

"The rally is a starting point of a long term campaign to make sure the people have their say on health services."