The Vale of Leven Hospital’s out-of-hours service was closed 85 times in the last year - more than any other within the health board.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has been slammed by Helensburgh's MSP, Jackie Baillie, over the denial of services to people living in her constituency.

According to the latest figures available - given to Ms Baillie under Freedom of Information - the Vale suffered the closures between November 2017 and November last year, causing patients to face travel times of over an hour to receive treatment.

Along with the Vale, NHSGCC also provides GP out of hours services at Easterhouse Health Centre, Greenock Health Centre, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Stobhill Hospital, Vale of Leven Hospital, Gartnavel General Hospital and the New Victoria Hospital.

Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University (QEU) Hospital was second worst on the list with 55 closures, meaning the Vale had around 50 per cent more closures that the flagship QEU.

Stobhill and the New Victoria in Glasgow suffered just two closures each in the same time period, while Paisley’s Royal Alexandria had three.

Ms Baillie said: “Patients in the catchment area for the Vale of Leven Hospital deserve a much better service from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“It is clear that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board is not doing enough to ensure that health services across the area are properly staffed.

“The health board must do more to ensure that patients can access the services that they need in their local area. I do not accept that my local community should have to travel a great distance to access a base level service that should be delivered locally.

“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde needs to get their act together and ensure that the Out of Hours service is always available.”

According to Baillie, in addition to the 85 closures, the Vale’s GP out-of-hours service was also closed twice over the festive period in 2018 on the December 27 and January 3.

In response, a spokeswoman for NHSGCC told the Advertiser: “The challenge of finding GPs willing to staff the Out of Hours Rotas is not an issue unique to NHSGGC and we are continuing to review how best to deliver a sustainable GP out-of-hours service across the Board area in the longer term.

“The review is ongoing and is part of a wider discussion on how to enhance the overall out-of-hours health and social care services for all our patients.

“We would remind any patient not to attend a GP out-of-hours service without first calling NHS 24.”