Ref. 30808-18Expectant mothers in Swindon claim plans to close a Wiltshire maternity unit will seriously limit women's choice.

Alex Martin, of Gorse Hill, and Sarah Newman, of Old Town, say they are appalled that Malmesbury's small midwife-led maternity unit faces the chop. Up to 25 of the total 110 women who attend the unit every year are from Swindon.

Mrs Newman, 38, who is due to give birth to her second child next month, said: "Malmesbury has a small cottage hospital and the maternity unit is run by midwives.

"My first child Oscar was born in Malmesbury four years ago and I think the positive experience I had there helped me get off to a good start with him.

"Both Malmesbury and Devizes maternity units are now threatened with closure as their health trust claims the birth rate is too low to be cost effective. But in the last year the birth rate has increased by 50 per cent, and Malmesbury is now as viable as other units that are being kept open.

"I have nothing against the Great Western Hospital, but I think women should be able to have the choice of where they give birth."

Mrs Martin's second child is due in January. Her first, eight-month-old Mary, was born at GWH because she was two weeks late.

She said: "Malmesbury doesn't have the facilities to induce delivery so I was transferred.

"I can't fault the delivery in the GWH and had a wonderful, healthy baby. But once I'd had her the aftercare wasn't really there because staff are so over-stretched.

"Malmesbury has just five beds. Even if all of them fill up it still retains a personal touch. It specialises in people who have natural births, whereas the GWH has a range of procedures such as epidurals and caesareans.

"At Malmesbury you have the same midwife before, during and after the birth, whereas Swindon's so much busier you have to deal with more people. If the unit goes, Swindon women will be left with no choice but GWH."

Phil Day, director of strategic service change at Kennet and North Wilts Primary Care Trust, said: "The issues of access for Swindon women to the Malmesbury maternity unit and the relative costs of running each unit were raised during the consultation.

"The PCT board will be considering the outcome of the consultation at its public meeting on June 22."

Alex Emery