12881/1THE public consultation on proposals to close Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units is to be extended, health chiefs agreed on Tuesday.

The board of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust agreed to extend the consultation period because of concerns raised by protestors and councillors that not enough time had been given for the consideration of detailed financial information relating to the possible closure of both midwife-led units.

The timescale of the extension will be announced as soon as the trust has agreed it with Wiltshire County Council's health overview and scrutiny committee.

Stephen Golledge, the acting joint chief executive of the trust and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, said he thought a two month extension to the public consultation period would be suitable but this needed to be discussed with the county council.

He recommended the trust board extend the consultation period saying: "It would be unwise of the PCT to press on saying we have held 12 weeks of public consultation when one of the overview and scrutiny panels has asked for an extension.

"Even if the request hadn't come I would still be requesting an extension to the consultation period because I was concerned that the public and stakeholders are saying they have not had sufficient time to absorb and consider the financial information that was released after we started the consultation.

"The proposals also have an impact on the population served by Swindon PCT and Cotswold and Vale PCT and we are waiting for replies from them."

The consultation was due to end on Monday of this week with a decision being taken at the trust's next board meeting on May 25.

Mr Golledge also said the trust needed to consider the report by Dr Suzanne Tyler, of the University of Birmingham, who said that both Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units ought to be retained and expanded.

She has also suggested two alternative proposals which would see both units retained for ante natal and post natal care but women would have to give birth elsewhere or to close both Devizes and Malmesbury units and build a new midwife unit between Swindon and Andover.

The board of the trust was given a presentation by Richard Hallett, a UK trustee of the National Childbirth Trust, in closed session on Tuesday.

Mr Hallett explained how a once threatened maternity unit in Crowborough, East Sussex was now flourishing after the local health authority decided to give it a trial period.

Mr Hallett in his presentation recommended to the board that they give Malmesbury Maternity Unit a trial period of two years and that it promotes Devizes Maternity Unit to increase the useage.

Before the board meeting maternity campaigners from Swindon, Malmesbury and Devizes held a peaceful protest outside the trust's headquarters in Southgate House, Devizes.

Sarah Newman, a campaigner from Old Town, Swindon, who gave birth to her first child at Malmesbury Maternity Unit and wants to give birth to her second child there, due in July, said: "We would like the ban on recruitment of midwifes lifted. Staff are feeling pressured to work extra shifts and we are concerned that these staff shortages are placing considerable strain on our maternity services and they could even lead to maternity units being closed."

Also before the meeting Paula Winchcombe, mayor of Devizes and chairman of DASH2, presented DASH2's response to the trust which is calling on the trust to give Devizes Maternity Unit a minimum of 18 months to prove it is viable.