MIDWIVES and auxillary workers will lose their jobs if maternity units are closed in Devizes and Malmesbury it was revealed this week.

A report has revealed 11 jobs could go. Also, vacancies for midwives and auxiliaries are not being filled until a final decision is made on the future of the two units, due on May 25.

Health bosses, however, said they hope redundancies won't be necessary and say where possible, staff will be redeployed.

Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust wants to close the two maternity units because it claims they are costly to run and are under- used.

The proposals would mean women would give birth and have postnatal care at Trowbridge or Chippenham maternity units. Ante natal clinics would be held at the Family Health Centre in New Park Street for six sessions from Monday to Friday.

The trust has also finally published the financial figures showing how much money would be saved by closing the units.

Phil Day, the trust's director of community services, claims a total of £318,242 could be saved.

Cutting 11.5 full-time posts would save £160,391 although the trust would have to fork out £15,000 for extra travel costs for midwives, who are employed by West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

Mr Day said at a trust board meeting on Tuesday: "West Wiltshire PCT is not looking at redundancies but redeploying staff. Vacancies will be held so the disruption to staff is minimal. We are talking about the budget for full-time equivalents, we are not talking about actual staff posts."

Richard Hallett, UK trustee of the National Childbirth Trust, told the Gazette: "I'm concerned at the reduction of 11.5 full-time posts because there will be no reduction in workload. There will still be all the women and babies to be cared for ante natally, post natally and the births themselves.

"How does the PCT intend to provide the same quality of service to the same women with 16 per cent less staff?"

Judy Slessar, regional officer for the Royal College of Midwives, said: "Unless there was a sound rationale for cutting staff we would be unhappy about it. The review has been a stressful time for staff and we expect there to be full consultation with them."

Midwives are against the proposed closures of the units and some have indicated that they would leave the profession.

Paula Winchcombe, chairman of DASH2 (Devizes Action to Save our Hospital) said: "I don't see how the trust will make savings by reducing staff and I fear a reduction in service. I believe there will be an increase in home births if Devizes and Malmesbury units close and if there is, there will need to be more midwives."

The trust says another £209,851 can be saved on heating and cleaning costs at the two maternity units.

Ron Crook, a non-executive director of the trust, said: "The Devizes unit is a relatively small area attached to the hospital and Malmesbury unit is part of the hospital. I just can't see the level of saving you have identified."

Mr Day also revealed that more women than previously thought would probably want to transfer to Chippenham rather than Trowbridge.

The financial information has been released as an addendum and is available on the trust's website at www.kennetandnwiltspct.nhs.uk or call (01380) 736010.