PEOPLE power has forced the PCT to reconsider closing maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury.

Following a protest march in Devizes in February, organised by the Gazette, and two petitions signed by more than 10,000 people calling for Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units to be saved, the trust has agreed to undertake further work.

The units at Devizes, Malmesbury and Chippenham cost £1.8million to run and the trust said in January when it launched its discussion document that, despite providing excellent care, they were not providing value for money.

Now the trust has commissioned Hull University to undertake a survey of 1,000 women.

The survey will find out if more pregnant women could use the units, particularly those in Devizes and Malmesbury which cater for fewer births than the Chippenham unit.

Those women taking part in the survey will be asked whether they would have given birth at the units or would like to do so in the future.

Based on the results the trust will draw up consultation proposals in July for and will make decisions at a board meeting in September.

The trust has indicated in a consultation document that Devizes could be saved as it is the only town in the trust's patch which is expecting an increase in the birth rate.

Malmesbury Maternity Unit looks vulnerable to closure as the town's birth rate is set to fall by ten per cent.