PROPOSALS for the future of maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury will be set out in the next few weeks.

The review of maternity units was discussed by West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust on Thursday.

The trust's chief executive Donna Stiles said the trust was in a unique position as it runs the midwife-led maternity units in Wiltshire.

Mrs Stiles said: "We have to look at how we would prefer to have maternity services provided for our population in West Wiltshire and we have to gather in the views from the PCTs who commission maternity services from us to see if what is being asked of us is viable.

"There may need to be some give and take between commissioners. It will not be straightforward."

Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units, which both have five beds, are under threat of merger; Devizes with Trowbridge and Malmesbury with Chippenham.

If Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units lose birthing facilities the review has indicated both towns could have day time units offering just ante natal and post natal care.

Mrs Stiles said the PCTs would discuss the maternity review this month or next month. She said any major changes planned would result in a three-month public consultation.

The trust agreed to discuss the review again once its professional executive committee, made up of GPs and nurses, discusses it behind closed doors on November 18.

Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT is due to discuss the maternity review at its board meeting, held in public, on November 25 at Southgate House, Devizes, at 2.30pm.

Chris Carver, a member of Devizes Action to Save Our Hospital told the board meeting: "Transport issues are absolutely crucial. In Devizes we are two bus rides from any hospital. A quarter of Devizes residents do not have access to a car, according to the local census."

North Wiltshire MP James Gray has slammed the health minister, Dr John Reid, for evading his parliamentary questions on the fate of maternity services in Wiltshire.

Mr Gray asked Dr Reid if he would be bringing his influence to bear on the Strategic Health Authority, which is consulting on closing down services.

But the Health Secretary said he did not understand the logic of Mr Gray's question, protesting: "My God, if in the context of the biggest annual increase in the NHS for the longest period in history, he is keen to point out to us where difficulties occur, what will he do when there is a 20 per cent cut in that investment?"

Mr Gray said: "Local people want an assurance on maternity services and it was disgraceful the Secretary of State for Health was unable to offer that."