Relatives of terminally ill patients met today to demonstrate over proposed changes in care at Scotland's largest hospice.

Hospice workers joined the families in Clydebank amid fears that 30 beds for the elderly are to go at St Margaret's.

They have launched a petition calling on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, who fund the beds, not to withdraw its cash.

The health board said it is looking at replacing the beds with other services for frail, elderly people but discussions were ongoing with the hospice.

Hospice chairman Professor Leo Martin said he fears that if the changes go ahead it will be resigned to a nursing home.

Prof Martin said: "These are hospice beds for the elderly with complex medical and nursing needs.

"What the health board is proposing is to downgrade St Margaret of Scotland Hospice to a nursing home.

"Over five decades we have provided first-class care for people who are dying including acute frail elderly patients.

"Under the health board's proposals funding would be massively cut and our hardworking fundraisers would face an impossible strain."

St Margaret's opened in Clydebank in 1950 and currently has 60 beds - 30 for palliative care and 30 for frail, elderly people.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the proposed changes follow a 2004 review that found that 30 fewer "continuing care" beds would be needed in the west of the city.

A spokeswoman said the board has been working with the hospice to look at alternative uses for the beds.

"We are committed to working with the hospice to try to agree a plan which would enable them to continue to provide a range of services in line with future needs," the spokeswoman said.

Marjorie McCance, whose terminally ill mother is cared for at St Margaret's, said: "What the hospice provides is an essential service that provides holistic care for the patient and emotional support for the family.

"It is fundamental that this hospice is saved."