The Stobhill campaign has attracted widespread support

John McManus, 33, from Kilsyth, is opposed to the removal of in-patient beds and casualty facilities at Glasgow's Stobhill Hospital.

He plans to contest the Westminster constituency of Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East.

Mr McManus said he was confident of unseating current MP Rosemary McKenna.

He hopes to emulate the success of independent MSP Dr Jean Turner who won a seat at Holyrood in 2003 after campaigning against NHS Greater Glasgow health board's plans for Stobhill.

If they remove in-patient beds and A&E services from Stobhill, it's going to cost lives John McManus

Responsibility for health is devolved to Holyrood but Mr McManus said he wanted the election contest to be a referendum on the future of Stobhill services.

He said: "New Labour aren't listening to us.

"If they remove in-patient beds and A&E services from Stobhill, it's going to cost lives."

Mr McManus, who is married with two daughters, was born at the hospital and his father Bill died there last October.

Asked if he could overturn Mrs McKenna's 7,520 majority, Mr McManus said: "We wouldn't be standing if we didn't think we could win."

Thousands of people in Scotland have launched campaigns against plans to centralise hospital services from the Highlands to the Lothians.

Amid the growing protests, the Scottish Executive last year asked cancer specialist Professor David Kerr to review the future of NHS organisation.

New hospitals

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow said the proposed changes to Stobhill were part of a wider �750m plan to transform Glasgow's hospital services, replacing outdated buildings with better facilities.

She added: "Planning is at an advanced stage for the building of two brand new hospitals at the Stobhill and the Victoria sites - an investment of more than �190m.

"These multi-million pound built-for-purpose developments will ensure continued local access to out-patient and day care services - the vast majority of hospital attendances - for the people of the north and south east of Glasgow.