Public meeting over hospice cuts

The hospice has to raise more than £30,000 a week to stay open

Almost 500 people have attended a public meeting about proposed changes at Scotland's largest hospice.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is considering relocating services from St Margaret's in Clydebank and campaigners claim that a 30-bed ward could be lost.

A total of 90,000 people have signed a petition to support the hospice.

MSPs from the main political parties attended the meeting at Clydebank Town Hall and campaigners urged the Scottish Government to intervene in the matter.

St Margaret's, Scotland's oldest hospice, opened in 1950 and currently has 60 beds - 30 for palliative care and 30 for frail, elderly people.

It currently has to raise more than £30,000 a week to stay open.

The health board is planning to withdraw £1.2m in funding and to replace the beds with other services for elderly people.

In February, the Scottish Parliament's public petitions committee agreed to investigate the issue and has also called for Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon to intervene.