We take the view that this is not a secure site for these people

Dr Fiona Johnston, Medical Staff Association

Further consultation over the plans began in January, but was adjourned when the appraisal could not be completed in time.

The facility in North Glasgow would house patients who have offended or have a mental illness, such as schizophrenia.

If it goes ahead, the proposed unit would cost around �12.5m and have a total of 76 beds.

The board believes it is needed to bridge the gap between the maximum security of the State Hospital at Carstairs and psychiatric hospitals, which are not best suited to provide secure care.

But the plan is being opposed by local residents who do not want patients with criminal convictions based near their homes.

They have received backing from medical staff at Stobhill Hospital, who feel the views of local people should come first.

The unit would house 76 people

Representatives of the Medical Staff Association said the arguments against siting the unit at Stobhill have been won - but they doubt if this will affect the final decision.

The association's Dr Fiona Johnston said siting the unit on land at the hospital would remove the flexibility for growth and development at Stobhill.

And she said: "We take the view that this is not a secure site for these people.

"They will not be locked up, they will be going out on escorted walks - some with permission from the first minister, if they are from the medium secure unit - and they will be easily able to blend into the large crowds that move through Stobhill Hospital.

"The anonymity that they gain from that would be advantageous to disappearance."

Local community councillor Margaret Macnaughton also voiced concerns that the prominent proposed location meant Stobhill was not the best place for the unit.

This secure unit will not take precedence over any other acute service developments on the Stobhill site

Dr Linda Watt, Greater Glasgow Primary Health Care Trust

However, she said the main concern centred on the loss of local facilities.

"We are not unhappy that people with mental health problems should come to this site, but only in a proportion with a district general hospital site," she said.

However, Dr Linda Watt, medical director for mental health and learning difficulties with Greater Glasgow Primary Health Care Trust said that any loss of services would be related to a review of acute services in the city.

"This secure unit will not take precedence over any other acute service developments on the Stobhill site," she said.

She stressed that any movement of patients outside the unit would be well into a period of rehabilitation and would only take place after assessments were carried out.

And Dr Watt added: "We do not underestimate the concerns of the public.

Acute services concerns

"However, there is a national strategy that suggests that there should be intermediate services for such patients between the high security of Carstairs State Hospital and local psychiatric units in order to minimise the risk of reoffending."

If the decision goes against the proposal, no other site will be recommended as a result of this appraisal.

Concerns about the future of acute services at the hospital prompted retired GP Jean Turner to stand for the Scottish Parliament earlier this month.

She came second, polling more than 7,500 votes, when she stood in a Holyrood by-election in Strathkelvin and Bearsden.