MIDWIFE Francis Findlay who has applied to work in the midwife-led units in Wiltshire has not had a reply nine weeks later.

In the meantime midwives working at Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units are working extra shifts to cover staff shortages.

The pressure will soon be felt at Chippenham Maternity Unit after four midwives resigned.

As part of the proposals by Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to close Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units there would be the loss of 11.5 midwife posts.

Until a decision is made on the future of the maternity units West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which employs the staff, is keeping vacancies open but said it was taking on bank midwives to cover shortages.

Mrs Findlay, who is working as an independent midwife, moved to Devizes from Ayrshire, Scotland, with her husband in December.

Nine weeks ago she applied to be a bank midwife working in the midwife- led units.

Mrs Findlay, who qualified as a midwife in 2001, said: "I spoke to someone at West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust about vacancies in the midwife-led units and was told that they weren't taking on any permanent staff but were looking for bank staff. Following that phone call I wrote to the trust applying to work as a bank midwife in the midwife-led units, I didn't specify which one.

"I am wondering why I have not had a reply."

Mrs Findlay, who has two grown up daughters, said: "I know the Devizes and Malmesbury units have struggled with staff shortages. I'm here and willing to work in one of the units but nobody from the trust has contacted me.

"I have not worked in a stand alone midwife-led unit and I would love to do so. The Wiltshire midwife-led units are known in the world of midwifery and they are much admired."

Mrs Findlay added: "It makes you wonder if by not filling the vacancies the trust is trying to shut the units by the back door."

A spokeswoman for West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust would not comment on Mrs Findlay's application.

The spokeswoman said: "We can't talk about individual cases."

The spokeswoman went on to contradict information previously put out by Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

Phil Day of Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust said at a meeting on April 19 in Wootton Bassett that West Wiltshire PCT was keeping midwife vacancies open until a decision is made about the two units but was taking on bank midwives.

However, West Wiltshire PCT said on Tuesday that vacancies for permanent midwife positions were to be advertised in Midwives Chronicle and on a nursing and midwifery website.

The spokeswoman said: "We are advertising for a number of permanent midwife posts for Trowbridge, Chippenham and Devizes."