This week's Community Column is written by retired local minister, the Rev Ian Miller.

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It is to the credit of our country that health and education services are available to all without cost. They are precious and deserve to be defended and any attempt to short changes us on the delivery of those services should be opposed.

I believe the Vale of Leven Hospital is under threat. The much trumpeted 'Vision for the Vale' was to be the definitive statement of services which would be provided for the foreseeable future and bring an end to the persistent health board bacon-slicing of those services we have taken for granted.

This was to be a line drawn in the sand.

The announcement of the board's proposal that the midwife-led unit should close is, for me, a clear indication that the steady removal of services will continue, and the promise of brighter and sustainable future forgotten.

The 'Vision for the Vale' is no longer a vision, more of a nightmare. The end result will be, perhaps, the health care of the elderly and the Vale Centre for Health at the bottom of the drive.

Most of our acute care is now delivered in Paisley. This single fact explodes the myth of health board consultations. I have never attended a consultation event where the message from the public was not clear. Unanimously the public declares that Paisley is wrong for us. It is impossible to reach by public transport. Alex Neil, plus the chairman and chief exec of the health board, agreed to consult on a proposal put forward by Jackie Baillie that the Jubilee be extended to include A&E, acute surgery and acute medical care. Shona Robison has made it clear she will not consider that option. What has changed? I wonder.

Last Sunday an elderly gentleman in his 90s took ill in Luss Church. A paramedic arrived quickly and decided that he should be transferred to the RAH. An ambulance was called. It took over two hours to get there.

Well is the Health Board named 'Greater Glasgow and Clyde'. The last two words imply an 'add on', and that is precisely how we are being treated.