The health board plans a shake-up of maternity services

The move was approved by the city's health board in October last year as part of a drive to reorganise Glasgow's maternity services.

But Dr Tom Turner, the unit's clinical director, said the planned closure would put mothers and babies at risk.

Greater Glasgow Health Board said it believed the proposal was the right decision.

The hospital's closure would mean the city's maternity services being based at the new Princess Royal Maternity in the east end and at the Southern General.

A three-month public consultation process on the proposal is in its final weeks.

The important discussion is what's best for the mothers and children of Glasgow, not bed occupancy Dr Tom Turner Queen Mother's Hospital

Campaigners are due to hold a public meeting on Monday to discuss their objections.

Surgeons have expressed their concern over the board's proposal and believe the closure would lead to a drop in standards of care.

Dr Turner conceded that there are too many maternity beds in Glasgow.

'Poorer service'

However, he said: "The important discussion is what's best for the mothers and children of Glasgow, not bed occupancy.

"There are concerns that the most vulnerable infants will have a poorer service than they currently receive."

Dr Turner said babies born in the Queen Mother's hospital are able to receive the medical treatment they require "on-site" rather than having to be transported elsewhere.

Mothers who experience complicated births are only "a wheelchair's ride away" from their children at the hospital, Dr Turner added.

He said: "To dislocate that doesn't seem to be modernisation of the service, but a dislocated service.

Health risk

"At a time when children are meant to be a priority in our health service we're disappointed that our health board is working in this direction."

Catriona Renfrew, the board's director of planning and community care, said the closure proposal was based on the least risk posed to mothers and their babies.

She said the Queen Mother's hospital could only provide intensive care for babies, while the Southern General could provide intensive care for mothers and babies.