Fight still far from being lost

Tears have been shed, tempers lost and voices raised following the announcement last week that the trust wants to close units in Devizes and Malmesbury and merge them with Trowbridge and Chippenham.

This week mums and other campaigners turned out to tell trust members exactly what they think of that idea.

But even more than voicing their concern to the trust they want women to know that the threatened units are still very much open for business as usual.

They want pregnant women to continue to book for Devizes and Malmesbury and not to play in to the hands of the trust by thinking there is no point and opting to go to one of the bigger hospitals.

They are worried that if people think the small units are doomed they will stop being used and this will give the health bosses even more ammunition to use against them.

Consultation about the closures starts in January and it is vital that people continue to speak their mind.

MP Michael Ancram is determined to do his bit to save the much praised unit in Devizes and leading lights from the National Childbirth Trust and experts from other organisations believe there is still a chance of saving the units.

Midwife-led units have been held up as a beacon of good practice by the Government and so it seems ridiculous that they should be closed.

Even more strangely the trust is now suggesting that a unit run on similar lines should be opened at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.

It is ridiculous to say this is the way things should be done to another trust and then close the very units they are holding up as a shining example.

There is still a long way to go in this war and although a few battles have been lost it does not mean the skirmishing is over.

We at the Gazette have pinned our colours firmly to the mast of the small maternity units and will continue to campaign for them to stay open.

Make sure you join the fight as well.