THE decision on whether to shut Glasgow's Lightburn Hospital and a children's ward in Paisley could be in the hands of the Scottish Government.

If plans by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are categorised as "major" service changes for patients and carers it means they will require approval from the Health Secretary, Shona Robison.

The board has previously deemed the closure of ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital as major and said plans for Lightburn would meet the critera.

However, proposals to close beds at the Centre for Integrative Care and shut community maternity units at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal Hospital are unlikely to face government scrutiny because the board does not believe they meet the critera for major change.

Decisions on whether a service change is major are made by the Scottish Government.

Read more: Closure threatened Lightburn hospital already boarded up

Plans to close Lightburn Hospital in the east end of the city, used for stroke rehabilitation, was included in a draft plan for cuts revealed by the Evening Times in June.

The Health Board today agreed to take forward further consulation on plans for four service changes which will contribute to a multi-million pound savings including shutting ward 15 of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

The health board is to carry out a formal public consultation on plans for the children's ward and said it would continue discussions with the government over plans to close Lightburn.

Further engagement will also be carried out on the future of community maternity units but the consultation process for the CIC will be "more limited."

Mark MacMillan, leader of Renfrewshire Council, raised a motion at today's meeting opposing the board's consultation but was rejected by a majority.

He argues that the proposed changes, including the closure of Lightburn Hospital and ward 15 of the RAH, have previously been rejected by the Scottish Government.

He said: "I have consistently been opposed to these service changes and I'm not the only one.

"If the Cabinet Secretary for Health is consistent she will oppose these changes."

The proposal for Lightburn is to shut the two 28 bed wards and transfer patients to the Royal Infirmary and Stobhill. Those who do not require in-patient services will be cared for in a “local community facility”.

Campaigners calling for the hospital to be saved fear a decision has already been taken as most of the hospital site has been boarded up.

Lightburn has been at the centre of a political row with labour MSPs claiming there are plans to shut it down despite Nicola Sturgeon when she was health minister promising it would stay open in 2011.

Campaigners fighting to save Lightburn Hospital staged a demonstration ahead of today's meeting in Govan.

Read more: Closure threatened Lightburn hospital already boarded up

Gerry McCann, part of the Save Lightburn Campaign said: "Four years ago Nicola Sturgeon reversed a decision to close Lightburn and here we are again.

"I'm hoping that Shona Robison will make the right decision but we are very sad that we are having to go through this again.

"Whatever happens, the east end will suffer."

The board will carry out further consultation on each of the proposed service changes with the findings presented to the next board meeting in December.