Scrapping plans for a major trauma centre in Aberdeen could put greater pressure on doctors and lead to an exodus of specialists from the north east, health experts say.

Centres were expected to open in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee by the end of 2016 but a review published last year called into question the need for facilities outside central Scotland.

This was described as a "serious concern" in a newly-published report by NHS Grampian's Area Clinical Forum (ACF).

Former health secretary Alex Neil said the network could help save 40 lives a year but the ACF said only building trauma centres in Glasgow and Edinburgh could mean the north would lose its ability to deal with serious car crashes and accidents.

It said there is a danger Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) would struggle to replace staff lost to the central belt and raised concerns this could contribute to a wider drain on resources.

NHS Grampian met to discuss trauma centre plans on Thursday after 50 senior doctors raised grave concerns about the project.

The ACF said: "There is a risk that if it is decided that Scotland's only major trauma centres should both be in the central belt, there will be a loss of highly skilled consultants and their associated teams, not only from specialties directly associated with trauma, but other specialties as well.

"There is a fear that a decision to locate two centres in Edinburgh and Glasgow will influence future configuration decisions and lead to a greater drain of people and resources to the central belt.

"Clinicians fear that this decision would begin a shift from the ARI being a major teaching hospital and centre of tertiary care to a district general hospital."

The AFC said it is "in the patient's best interests to be treated locally" and it is likely people injured in the north of Scotland will continue to be taken to ARI in the first instance regardless of where the major trauma centres are built.

The forum added the north of Scotland's dependency on high-risk industries like oil, fishing and mountain tourism means there is a greater potential for major accidents than in other areas.

It added: "Clinicians are keen to stress that we currently have services for major trauma and for several years we have been working hard to establish networks across the north of Scotland to ensure a cohesive and effective approach to trauma.

"The risk of a two-centre model for major trauma is that Grampian and the north of Scotland loses what it currently has.

"There is also a real risk that this decision would have a negative impact on patient outcomes and experiences, and the reputation and future of NHS Grampian as a major teaching hospital and centre of tertiary care.

"Once services are reduced, they are not easily reinstated if the unintended consequences are as serious as many clinicians fear."