TWO Glasgow mums have slammed health bosses for failing to help them get treatment for their babies.

Today Ana Martinez and Sharon McAllister took their fight - backed by a 15,000-strong petition - to the Scottish Parliament.

Both mums have babies who suffer from plagiocephaly, a rare condition which causes their heads to grow out of shape.

Both had to take their infants to a Leeds clinic for treatment after delays in diagnosis.

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Sharon, 33, of Kinning Park, said the treatment of her baby Charlie was "really atrocious".

She spotted the condition when Charlie was three weeks old but her health visitor said that it would go away.

She was eventually referred to Yorkhill but told there was a 17-week waiting list. She then held a fund-raising event, netting almost £2000 for a special helmet to correct the condition. Sharon said this made a "huge difference" to Charlie, now 17 months.

If not treated before the age of 18 months it can lead to a deformed head.

Ana's nine-month-old son Lucio will be wearing a helmet within weeks.

The 29-year-old of Townhead asked her GP about the condition when Lucio was three months old. Lucio eventually got a referral to Yorkhill but his mum took him to Leeds to avoid a 10-week wait.

MSPs today, on receiving the petition, were considering responses from charity Headstart4Babies and medical experts. The plagiocephaly support group wants checks for the condition at birth and six weeks, and free helmets.

The Executive has just published a leaflet and a factsheet on the issue.

It claims: "It is normal for babies' heads to become slightly flatter on one side. If they spend all their time on their backs this can become noticeable (plagiocephaly)."

It says the condition should not happen if the advice given in the leaflet is followed. Visit http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/Recent