Medical staff have joined dozens of people to protest at plans for a major shake-up of hospital provision in Scotland's biggest city.

A public meeting in Glasgow was attended by more than 100 people who oppose plans to cut the number of in-patient hospitals and accident and emergency departments in the city.

The Tuesday night meeting was arranged by local MSPs and attracted a large number of medical professionals as well as concerned patients.

The �700m reorganisation plan was approved by Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm last week.

Glasgow Royal Infirmary will retain A&E services

The Greater Glasgow Acute Services Review will see the number of accident and emergency departments cut from five to two.

Specialist care will be centralised at three sites in the city, while the Western Infirmary faces closure.

Opponents of the plans claim lives could be put at risk, but the health board said the changes are necessary to create centres of excellence.

The health board also claims the overhaul would help to attract specialist staff as well as reducing the long hours doctors are expected to work.

One nurse at the meeting said the plan would sign the death warrant of an unknown number of patients.

Margaret Hinds, the chairwoman of the Glasgow South East Health Forum, told BBC Scotland the plans were "nonsensical".

'Serious situation'

She predicted that a lack of hospital beds experienced during the summer would get worse.

She also warned of the distances which patients would have to travel for treatment.

"It really is a very serious situation and we are very pleased that MSPs and 230,000 people on the south side of the city are supporting our concerns," she said.

Such was the level of anger at the meeting that a motion of no confidence in the health board was passed.

A series of rallies and protests against the plans are also now being organised.