The Evening Times in Glasgow has launched a campaign to save two local hospitals which have been earmarked for closure.

It has been recommended that The Queen Mother's maternity and Yorkhill Sick Children's hospitals be moved to a sprawling site at Glasgow's Southern General.

A report by Glasgow University professor Margaret Reid proposed the Queen Mother's move across the River Clyde to the Southern General in Govan and recommended the sick children's hospital on the same site should be moved at a later date.

But the newspaper is warning that if the closures went ahead it would be the end of a unique relationship between the hospitals which allows sick new-born babies to be treated on site as soon as they are born.

As part of its Hands Off Yorkhill campaign the paper is encouraging its readers to sign a petition which will be presented to Scottish Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm.

It has also published the names, telephone numbers and email addresses of some of the key decision-makers, including NHS Greater Glasgow Chief Executive Tom Divers and a number of Glasgow MSPs, and is encouraging readers to show their support by getting in touch with them directly.

And it is highlighting the importance of the two hospitals by publishing a series of case studies which show how the hospitals have help improve or save the lives of so many people.

Greater Glasgow NHS Board is due to announce its decision on the recommendations on October 21.

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