BED numbers could be cut further and the out of hours GP service moved from Drumchapel Hospital, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed.

The health board stated a proposal to move the out of hours doctors service was being considered, but would not confirm what other locations were being reviewed.

The announcement came after rumours circulated within the local community that the hospital was going to close entirely.

Eric Flack, secretary of Blairdardie and Old Drumchapel Community Council, told the Post more information was needed to reassure locals about the future of healthcare in the area. “What concerns me as a community councillor is if the out of hours service is moved,” Mr Flack said.

“What we want to know is what the proposals are and, if it is being moved, is it to be based within the local Drumchapel area? Is it going to be sited in the health centre itself? That would be the logical thing to do.” Mr Flack also urged the health board to outline a long-term future for Drumchapel Hospital, again stating no one knew what was going on.

He said: “What we do know is that there seems to be a proposal to move patients to level eight of Gartnavel Hospital on Great Western Road. They certainly are not getting as may patients as they used to. It may make sense to move patients from the health board’s point of view if they have extra beds available at [Gartnavel], but everything is very vague and some of the staff aren’t sure what’s happening either.” He added: “A lot of their patients have been moved to Gartnavel Hospital but what will happen to the hospital site? There were originally four wards up there and now we are down to two.” Primarily an elderly care hospital, Drumchapel’s two wards currently offer hospital-based care to elderly people with medical needs. It also has a rehabilitation service that supports elderly people to get back on their feet following falls, strokes and other health problems.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “On the back of our clinical services strategy which was approved by the board earlier this year, and the changes we are planning with the opening of the new South Glasgow University Hospital, we are considering a number of service moves to improve care in the west sector of the city. “This includes examining the development of integrated rehabilitation services, providing care in more homely settings and, therefore, reducing beds for hospital based care.

“We will consult the local community on any proposed changes to services on the site.”