UNION bosses say morale at Inverclyde Royal has been badly hit by years of cuts and uncertainty over the future of the hospital.

Unison regional divisional convenor Raymond O'Donoghue, who works in the hospital, spoke out to warn health bosses and the Scottish Government.

He says employees need assurances about the long-term future of the hospital and the services it will retain.

Mr O'Donoghue said: "In the last few years the morale of the staff in the hospital has been low, with austerity and ten years of cuts.

"The future of the hospital is under threat.

"They need to tell us what they are going to do Inverclyde Royal.

"Is it going to remain a fully functional district hospital with accident and emergency?"

The Unison regional officers and hospital worker was speaking at an event to celebrate 70 years of the NHS.

Raymond added: "The NHS didn't happen by chance.

"It happened because people fought for it and we have to keep fighting for it."

The birthday event was also attended by shadow health minister Anas Sarwar and local Labour candidate Martin McCluskey, who thanked staff as he spoke of his own affection for the hospital and NHS.

Mr McCluskey said: "Inverclyde Royal brings highly skilled and well paid jobs to Inverclyde.

"We don't want to lose them either.

"We want to keep them here."

There have been concerns raised in recent years about the centralisation of services and the impact this is having on our hospital.

Labour health spokesman Mr Sarwar said: "We want to save Inverclyde Royal Hospital and we don't want to take local services away.

"We will protect local hospitals."