A hospital and several maternity services are set to close under NHS plans to overhaul healthcare across the west of Scotland.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has approved a consultation on plans to shut Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow and to transfer birthing services at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde hospitals in Dumbarton and Greenock to other sites.

Further plans include the transfer of emergency paediatric care from the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Seven inpatient beds at Homeopathic Hospital at Gartnavel General Hospital, also know as the Centre for Integrative Care, are set to be removed under the proposals.

Patients, families and interested groups are now being encouraged to take part in the engagement process which the health board has said is "shaping the future of the affected services".

The proposal to move the paediatric services from Ward 15 at the RAH to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children was originally made in 2012.

The board is now proposing to proceed with plans which would see paediatric emergency, elective inpatient and day care transferring from the RAH to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

The plans would also mean the closure of Lightburn Hospital in Glasgow and transfer of services to Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Stobhill, where the introduction of new models of rehabilitation care for older people would be introduced.

The Vale of Leven Hospital Community Maternity Unit (CMU) and Inverclyde Royal Hospital CMU would be heavily affected by the plans with midwife led birthing services no longer being provided at either.

Women would have the choice to receive these services at either the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Princess Royal Maternity Hospital or Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Margaret McGuire, nurse director at NHSGGC, said: "The engagement process is now open and I would especially encourage women who have used or may use the CMU, and the local community, to share their views on what the board is proposing.

"A dedicated Patient Experience Public Involvement Manager is working together with the Stakeholder Reference Group which was set up to agree on the best ways to engage with those affected and the local communities between now and November."

Catriona Renfrew, director of planning and policy at the health board, added: "The engagement process is now open and I would encourage patients, carers and the public to share their views on what the board is proposing."

Information on the proposal and ways in which people can engage with us can be viewed here online or people can send in their views by emailing Public.Involvement@ggc.scot.nhs.uk.