CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units are hoping that a deferral of the decision on the units' future is a good sign.

The board of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust was due to decide the fate of both midwife-led units on Tuesday.

But following concern that it had not fully taken into account the numbers of women from Swindon who could use the Malmesbury unit, the trust has decided to defer making a decision until its board meeting on July 27.

Acting joint chief executive Stephen Golledge said yesterday: "A small number of women from Swindon use the Malmesbury Maternity Unit.

"In recognition of this we have asked the Swindon overview and scrutiny committee to consider whether, in its view, our proposals are significant to their population."

This deferment has prolonged the time spent on considering the future of the two units.

Uncertainty has been hanging over both units since January 2003 when the trust announced it had to cut £10m over three years and questioned if Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units were viable.

The three-month public consultation was extended after criticism by campaigners that the trust had only released detailed financial information several weeks into the consultation. The consultation ended on May 31.

Campaigners have called on the trust to give both units trial periods to prove they are viable, and to promote them better.

The campaign to save both units has received huge support from the public.

A Gazette petition signed by more than 10,000 people in February 2003 was presented to the trust and in March this year campaigners delivered another Gazette organised petition signed by 9,790 people to Shadow Health Secretary John Baron.

At Malmesbury maternity unit there has been more than 50 births so far this year, an increase of 50 per cent on the same time last year.

Malmesbury campaigner Sarah Newman, who lives in Old Town, Swindon, said: "The deferral has got to be a good sign and shows that the PCT is taking it seriously and the fact they are consulting with the Swindon overview and scrutiny committee means they are taking on board the concerns of Swindon women."

Liz Austin, chairwoman of Swindon National Childbirth Trust, said: "The birth rate in Swindon is set to rise by 17 per cent by 2011 and for many women, especially in West Swindon, it's as easy to get to Malmesbury as the Great Western Hospital.

"Since we have been campaigning we have found women who didn't know that Malmesbury Maternity Unit existed and they want the choice of giving birth there."

Margaret Taylor, chairman of DASH2 (Devizes Action to Save Our Hospital), said: "The deferral gives us another month to show the PCT how well used Devizes Maternity Unit is.

"We understand the unit is being used by more and more women and we would encourage women who are pregnant and would like to use the unit to contact the midwives.

"The deferment will be hard for the maternity unit staff as they are left in doubt about their futures."

Campaigner Eleanor Christmas, a mother of three from Ramsbury, said: "Any deferment is good as the units stay open but are they prolonging the agony?"

The trust board meeting on July 27 will be held in the Corn Exchange, Devizes at 10am.