By Graeme Esson BBC News Online Scotland

Campaigners have raised concerns over travel times

Protesters opposed to a reduction in maternity services at a Greenock hospital are vowing to take their campaign to Scotland's health minister.

Inverclyde Provost Ciano Rebecchi said the activists had lost the first fight - but would not be giving up the battle.

Campaigners now plan to target Malcolm Chisholm, who has the final say over the proposals agreed by the Argyll and Clyde NHS Board.

More than 50 people staged a protest before the meeting on Tuesday which decided the future of the area's maternity services.

They were angered when members backed a recommendation to concentrate all consultant services for Argyll and Clyde at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

New community maternity units (CMUs), staffed by midwives, will be created at the Vale of Leven Hospital in Alexandria and Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock.

Services removed

The latter currently has a full consultant-led service at its Rankin Unit.

Campaigners say many expectant mothers face long journeys to hospital if they have complications.

They have also voiced fears that the changes will lead to other services being removed from the Greenock hospital.

I will be doing everything in my power to convince him (Malcolm Chisholm) not just to reject this plan, but to institute a full west of Scotland-wide review of hospital provision Duncan McNeil Local MSP

Provost Rebecchi said that those campaigning against the proposals would not give up.

"They might have won the fight on Tuesday, but we are now going out to take up the battle with Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm," he said.

"This isn't finished yet. This is just the start of the next stage and we will be fighting the next stage - I can assure you of that."

Duncan McNeil, the Labour MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, said: "This is not the end of the line.

"The decision has to be ratified by the health minister and I will be doing everything in my power to convince him not just to reject this plan, but to institute a full west of Scotland-wide review of hospital provision.

"This is the only way to avoid the sort of ludicrous anomalies to which such decisions will lead."

Consultant services will be centralised in Paisley

He said the move would open the door to the centralisation of consultant-led inpatient services for more than 800,000 women and children in two hospitals just seven miles apart.

"If that is not an issue which needs the investigation of the health minister and his department then I don't know what is," he added.

However, the health board defended the decision - and the way it was reached.

A spokesman said the consultation process had been "transparent and robust".

"We consulted with stakeholders and with the public about what we planned to do, and those consultations were open," he said.