Anas Sarwar has said voters must back Scottish Labour to save the award winning Wishaw neonatal unit, halt the SNP’s centralisation plans to downgrade units in Dundee, Glasgow, Kirkcaldy and Kilmarnock, and fix Scotland’s NHS after 20 years of SNP failure.

The Scottish Labour leader said Scotland needs change and that a Scottish Labour government would fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

Mr Sarwar said protecting neonatal services is part of Scottish Labour’s wider plan to rebuild the NHS and put patients first, with his first priority as First Minister being to cut waiting times, end the 8am rush for a GP appointment and bring back the family doctor.

Scottish Labour has pledged to stop the plans to centralise specialist neonatal units across Scotland and commission a new review of services so parents and babies everywhere can safely access the specialist care they need.

The party has also committed to deliver safe maternity services in every part of the country.

The neonatal units under threat of being downgraded are:

• Ninewells Hospital, Dundee
• Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow
• University Hospital Wishaw
• Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
• Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock

Mr Sarwar will say that for any parent, having a baby in neonatal intensive care is a terrifying experience, and while the priority should be to deliver the safest neonatal provision possible, families should not be forced to travel further than necessary from home, their support networks and their communities at the most difficult moment of their lives.

Scottish Labour said the SNP’s plans would mean more stress, more uncertainty and longer journeys for families when they should be able to stay close to their baby and get the support they need.

The party said that is the human cost of SNP failure in the NHS, and only a change of government will protect these services units, protect families and put patients first.

Commenting, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP.

“If you want to fix the NHS, save Wishaw neonatal unit and protect quality neonatal services in Dundee, Glasgow, Kirkcaldy and Kilmarnock, vote Scottish Labour.

“Having your baby in neonatal intensive care is a terrifying experience for any parent. Families should be able to stay close to their baby, close to their loved ones and close to the support networks they rely on.

“But under the SNP’s plans, families in Dundee, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Fife and Ayrshire risk being pushed further away from care at the most frightening and emotional time of their lives.

“That is not fair, and it is not good enough.

“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“A Scottish Labour government I lead will reverse these downgrade plans, pause centralisation, and put patients and families first.

“The SNP have had 20 years and our public services are paying the price, give me five and I can fix the mess and deliver the change Scotland needs.”