Glasgow’s health board wants to close a hospital which cares for 450 elderly people a year.

Under the plan, the 75-bed Lightburn Hospital, in Greenfield in the East End, would see in-patient and out-patient services transferred to Stobhill Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde wants to switch long-term care services, used by around 450 patients each year, to Stobhill in a mixture of new purpose-built beds and refurbished accommodation.

Out-patient services and clinics would relocate to the Royal Infirmary and elsewhere.

The board said elderly patients will have access to improved diagnostic equipment at Stobhill, including MRI scanners and ultrasound. Lightburn has only limited X-ray facilities.

There are 206 staff at the hospital and the board said there will be no compulsory redundancies.

The plan is now out for public consultation.

Matt McLaughlin, regional organiser for public sector union Unison, said: “Any hospital closure must be given careful consideration.

“This is obviously the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and Unison will give its members and the public full support.”

Plans have already been approved to transfer elderly in-patient acute services at Stobhill Hospital to the Royal Infirmary.

Anne Harkness, the health board’s director of rehabilitation and assessment, said: “Under our preferred option most patients will continue to use only Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

“However, for about 450 patients per year who need longer-term rehabilitation, this would be within Stobhill rather than Lightburn Hospital.

“There are a number of reasons why we need to change the way we deliver these services.

“Patients in rehabilitation wards need good access to diagnostic investigations.

“Stobhill Hospital has new diagnostic facilities. Lightburn Hospital has limited part-time X-ray facilities that need significant investment to bring them up to current standards.

“Also, all the rehabilitation wards at Lightburn Hospital require refurbishment to bring them up to modern healthcare standards.

“By contrast, in early 2011, 48 new rehabilitation beds will become available in purpose-built accommodation at Stobhill Hospital. It would not be practical or cost-effective to leave the newly-built beds at Stobhill vacant.”

Details of the consultation, which ends on November 30, are available at www.nhsggc.org.uk/elderlyrehab or by calling 0800 0277246.