THE appeal against the decision by the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to close Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units has questioned the validity of the consultation process.

Wiltshire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee has made the appeal to the Secretary of State for Health, Dr John Reid, and in its submission document it suggests the trust was not interested in trying to make both midwife led units viable.

The document, which was sent on Friday, says: "Members are of the

opinion that by the time the proposals were publicly consulted upon the

decision to close the units in Devizes and Malmesbury had effectively been made.

"Although the consultation was widespread, members feel that no attempt was made to develop or research any of the alternative proposals that had been presented during the consultation.

"Therefore the committee concludes that the consultation into the future of maternity services has been rendered valueless by a lack of will to consider alternatives."

The trust argued that both units were underused and closing them would save around £318,000 a year. It said that women could give birth and have post natal care at Trowbridge and Chippenham maternity units leaving a limited ante natal service in Devizes and Malmesbury.

The trust first identified having to make savings in its maternity budget back in January 2003 and the community backed a Gazette campaign to save both units.

Firm proposals to close the units were announced in November and the trust ratified the decision in July this year despite widespread opposition.

Two petitions organised by the Gazette and the community were signed by almost 20,000 people and despite the threat of closure hanging over both units more women have used them.

The committee also says it is concerned by the trust's financial problems and the lack of a permanent chief executive during the consultation.

During 2003/04 the trust unexpectedly overspent by £2million and was criticised by the Audit Commission for poor financial control.

The document says: "The committee argues that the changes to management structures, lack of leadership, resignations of board members, appointment of new board members and general instability of the trust during the period between September 2003 and October 2004 have thrown into question the ability of the board to make key strategic decisions and have caused both the committee and the public to view these decisions as unsound and unsupportable."

The committee is making the referral on the basis that the decision to close the units is not in the interests of the health service and it does not accept the financial assumptions of the trust.

Mums hope unit wins survival fight

DEVIZES Maternity Unit has seen an increase in women from outside the Devizes area using the unit.

Keri Kilbey, 30, of Avebury, gave birth to her first child, Johanna Rose Cooke, a month ago at Devizes.

Miss Kilbey, a sales representative, moved to Avebury two months ago from Corsham. "Before I came here I wasn't aware there was a maternity unit in Devizes," she said.

"I was shown around the maternity unit at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and I found it a bit intimidating because it's so big and impersonal.

"I was most concerned that the birthing pool would be too busy for me to use. I made good use of the pool at Devizes and it made the world of difference to me and the baby.

"The midwives at Devizes are really good and the ante natal and post natal care you receive there is great.

"When I was in there after giving birth there were women in from rural areas and Devizes is their nearest port of call. If Devizes wasn't there some of them would have ended up giving birth in the car."

Miss Kilbey, who lives with her partner Jason Cooke, 31, said the main issue to be addressed was promotion of the unit.

She said: "It doesn't make sense to close the unit until it has been given a chance to advertise itself. A lot of people don't know it's there."

Sally Jones, 39, of Netheravon, gave birth to her fourth son, Ivor, at Devizes last month. She said: "I have given birth in Bath, Chippenham and Macclesfield and I have to say that Devizes is the best.

"If you've got problems then a big labour ward is obviously best. But a small unit like Devizes is better for older mums like me who want a bit of time to recuperate before going back home to the demands of a large family.

Mrs Jones added: "I only heard about Devizes by chance although my community midwife wasn't sure if it was still open. I hope Devizes continues to be open."