MPs have joined forces in a bid to ensure the appeal against the closure of Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units is successful.

Following the submission to Health Secretary Dr John Reid by Wiltshire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee, Devizes MP Michael Ancram, North Wiltshire MP James Gray (both Conservative) and South Swindon MP Julia Drown (Labour) have asked for a meeting with Dr Reid.

The three MPs have repeatedly called for the retention of both midwife led maternity units during an 18 month campaign in which 20,000 people have signed two petitions calling for the units to be saved.

Mr Ancram said that he, Mr Gray and Ms Drown had written to Dr Reid requesting a meeting with him.

Mr Ancram said: "Dr Reid has received the referral from Wiltshire County Council and we have asked to meet him so we can press the case for the retention of the maternity units.

"We want to see the two units remain open and we are hoping we can persuade him that they should stay open. This is an issue that crosses party lines and that is something else we will make clear to him if he agrees to meet us."

The demise of the units was signalled by the board of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust which decided in July to close them and transfer women wanting birthing and post natal facilities to either Chippenham or Trowbridge hospitals.

But the closure of the Devizes and Malmesbury units is on hold until the appeal by the county council is determined. It is a historic move as it is the first appeal under new health scrutiny arrangements.

It is not yet known when Dr Reid will decide if the appeal should be investigated by an Independent Reconfiguration Panel.

At a Primary Care Trust meeting in Devizes on Tuesday members of the board expressed disappointment that discussions about the prospect of establishing a midwife led unit at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, had to be put on hold while the appeal submission is determined.

The trust had begun talks with the hospital trust and Swindon Primary Care Trust and were due to start discussions with Carillion, which is the hospital's Private Finance Initiative partner.

Gill Stafford, a non-executive director, asked if the discussions with Carillion had started but was told everything relating to the maternity review was on hold. She said: "What we are trying to do in Swindon is a positive step. It comes down to us wanting patients to have equity of access to a fantastic service."

Trust chairman Tim Boucher asked if the trust could challenge it so the trust could continue its discussions with its partners in Swindon.

The trust's new joint chief executive Carol Clarke, who took up her post on October 1, advised the board that all work on the maternity review has stopped and should remain so until the appeal is decided.

She said: "We might want to proceed with bits of the review we are happy with but others might consider they are not happy with that. I don't know how we challenge it and I think the safest option is to stay still until we know the outcome of the appeal referral."