LOCAL families will be deprived of a "vital life-saving service" if plans go ahead to axe a children's ward, politicians have warned.

The Green party in Renfrewshire has vowed to fight proposals to relocate ward 15 of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley to Glasgow's new hospital.

They have pledged to support the efforts of local campaign groups who are fighting to retain the service.

The future of the ward has been in doubt since 2011, when health chiefs revealed plans to shut it.

It was given a stay of execution when a major public consultation revealed the preferred option was to delay the closure until 2015, when the new children's hospital would open in Glasgow.

Sarah Anderson, Renfrewshire Greens council candidate, said: "As someone who values the dedication of RAH staff, and through my own personal struggles, I recognise how difficult and traumatic it can be to have to attend hospital, particularly when services are not local.

"I urge the NHSGGC board to reconsider their stance and keep children’s services local to Renfrewshire.

“Families already have to travel to RAH which can bring its own challenges. Centralising these services would not only create further stress for patients but possibly put the health of our children at risk.

"The Renfrewshire Greens believe services must remain local, especially those which concern our young people, and we will be campaigning against this move in the coming weeks.”