A surgeon claims ministers have distorted health provision across Scotland by using the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank to cut waiting lists.

David Smith, a consultant at the Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, is standing as an independent in Cathcart in protest at what is happening to hospitals in the south of Glasgow.

He said: "There is no doubt that plans to move all acute facilities, including accident and emergency, away from the Victoria site in south Glasgow and locate them at the Southern General in the farthest south-west point of the city will put lives at risk."

The breast cancer specialist, who is about to retire, claimed: "Everyone now is wanting to keep health services local'. How does the Golden Jubilee Hospital fit into this concept?

"It's only local' if you live in Clydebank and yet patients from all over Scotland are sent there because their local hospital cannot deal with them inside the waiting time guarantees.

He added that "resources are just not available locally because of lack of beds, lack of theatre time and lack of staff".

"In 2006 over 300 general surgical patients from South Glasgow were sent by the health board to the Golden Jubilee Hospital for treatment. No attempt is being made to address why they cannot be dealt with locally."