Doctors in Glasgow are to launch a rebellion over imminent changes to the role of health visitors, which they say could reduce the take-up of immunisation and hinder child protection.

The Glasgow Local Medical Committee (LMC), which represents practices covering NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, has written to every GP in the area suggesting they take out a grievance over a new requirement that they take on responsibility for childhood immunisation.

This work is not part of the GP contract, but the target of the action, doctors say, is the plan to move health visitors out of their current base in primary care and link them with social work teams covering a wider geographical area.

Barbara West, secretary of Glasgow LMC, said GPs were "aghast" at the plans and a considerable number were expected to lodge a grievance.

"We're profoundly unhappy about the professional consequences of what the board is pushing through," she said. "This represents a very big change to the way health services are delivered."

Doctors argue that the loss of the close link between health visitors and primary care will make it harder to persuade patients to have their children immunised.

However, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde denies the connection with general practice will be lost.

A spokeswoman said: "The new teams will focus more on vulnerable children and their families, while continuing to provide engagement and assessment for all children and working with GPs to continue high levels of childhood immunisation."