Trouble continues at 'the Vale'

The hospital has been at the centre of controversy for several years

Concern over deaths from the bug Clostridium difficile at Vale of Leven is the latest controversy to centre on the Dunbartonshire hospital.

Since the turn of the century a public and political row has raged over its future role.

There have been numerous protests over the transfer of core services to other hospitals in the area.

And the health board originally in charge was axed by Scottish ministers after running up a huge budget deficit.

The Vale of Leven General Hospital was built just after World War II.

By 2000 it had an accident and emergency unit, a general ward and maternity, geriatric and psychiatric wards.

Back then the hospital was run by NHS Argyll and Clyde, which courted controversy by announcing reviews of services at 'the Vale'.

Public consultation

Despite public protests, the consultant-led maternity service at the hospital was transferred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley in October 2002.

The Vale's accident and emergency unit was also shut down two months later.

Focus then shifted from the hospital to the spiralling debt of NHS Argyll and Clyde.

The health board, which served 420,000 people in an area stretching from Campbeltown to Paisley, was �80m in the red by 2005.

This persuaded the then Scottish Executive to scrap it, and split its responsibilities between NHS Greater Glasgow Clyde (GGC) and NHS Highland.

But the controversy continued and in 2007 more than 10,000 campaigners held a march and rally to stave off cuts to the unscheduled medical care facility and birthing unit at the Dunbartonshire hospital.

Following a critical report into this by an Independent Scrutiny Panel, GGC decided to hold a consultation.

Public views on proposed changes to unscheduled medical services have not yet been sought.

The consultation on plans for the birthing unit ends on 27 June.

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