SCOTTISH Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is urging the First Minister to save Paisley's sick children ward.

Health board members this week gave the green light to plans to move paediatric inpatient services from Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

If the decision is approved by health secretary Shona Robison, local services would transfer to the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Ms Dugdale today challenged Nicola Sturgeon to save the children’s ward that she previously told voters was not under threat.

Ahead of the Scottish Parliament election last year, Nicola Sturgeon was asked in a live TV debate about proposals to close the children’s ward.

The SNP leader replied: “There’s no proposals to close that particular ward.”

READ MORE: Royal Alexandra Hospital: Ward 15 fight will go on despite health bosses confirming closure

Gordon Clark, the audience member who asked Nicola Sturgeon about the closure plans during the live TV debate, was in the gallery for today’s First Minister’s Questions.

He has written to the First Minister asking her to overturn the decision to close the children’s ward.

Speaking after First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Labour leader said: "Last year Nicola Sturgeon told Gordon Clark and the whole of Scotland that there were no plans to close the children’s ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, but now we know that is exactly what is going to happen.

“Nicola Sturgeon offered false hope to thousands of families. She should step in to save the children’s ward.

“The cuts in Paisley aren't the only cuts planned to NHS services in Scotland. The maternity units at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal are now under threat.

“Because of the SNP’s failure to properly staff our NHS, children’s health services are in crisis.

“People across Scotland just want to know when this SNP government will fix the mess it has made of the NHS.”

Responding to Ms Dugdale during First Minister's Questions, Ms Sturgeon said: "I am not prejudging the Scottish Government’s view on the matter. because we now have to go through a formal process of our own. 

"But let us remember that the proposal comes in the context of there being a new children’s hospital in the south of Glasgow, just a few miles away from the Royal Alexandra hospital."

The First Minister also vowed that the Scottish Government would "listen carefully, not just to the views of a health board, but to those of parents and other patients."

She added: "We will come to a decision, rightly and properly, based on what we think is in the best interests of patients. That is the right way for a responsible government to proceed."