PARENTS to be are among those invited to take a look around Devizes Maternity Unit. The midwife led unit is holding an open day on April 9.

The centre, along with Malmesbury Maternity Unit, has been threatened with closure by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust over the past two years but thanks to a campaign by the community and the Gazette and Herald including two petitions signed by around 20,000 people it has been reprieved pending the outcome of another financial review.

One of the criticisms made by people against the trust is that the maternity unit has not been promoted and there are potentially more women who could use it if they knew more about it.

The open day, which runs from 10am to 5pm, is open to anyone interested in giving birth there or who wants to know what facilities there are.

During the open day, staff will be on hand to offer advice and take guests on a tour.

Visitors will be able to learn how the unit works and why this type of service is valued and considered to be 'gold standard' NHS care.

The unit provides one to one care in a home from home environment.

Sixty per cent of women at the Devizes unit choose to use the birthing pool during labour.

Staff will also explain how they achieve high success rates in getting mothers to breastfeed.

The event is also intended to raise awareness of the facilities with health professionals in GP surgeries based within a 25 mile radius of Devizes as well as in the three consultant units that Devizes serves.

The unit, which last year delivered 158 babies, has five post natal beds as well as two delivery rooms.

Women can also use the unit for ante and post natal care.

Midwife Helen Cosslett said: "The purpose of the open day is to promote the unit and let people see what kind of service we offer. We aim to make newcomers to the region aware of our existence. We would particularly welcome visitors who live in the east of the county which does not have the benefit of a community based birthing centre."