CLOSING Malmesbury and Devizes maternity units would mean 11 less staff being employed, it was revealed this week.

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 hope there will be no redundancies and say staff will be redeployed.

Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust wants to close the two units as it says they are costly to run and under used.

Phil Day, director of community services at the trust, said £318,242 could be saved. Cutting 11.5 full-time equivalent 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: "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."

View the financial information on the trust's website at www.kennetandnwiltspct.nhs.uk or call (01380) 736010.