Malton maternity unit will not shut down and proper public consultation will be carried out.

That's the message from Yvonne Webster, who has just been appointed head of midwifery services for Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Trust and the Primary Care Trust, responsible for maternity services in Ryedale and the east coast.

Mrs Webster was speaking to allay fears that decisions have already been taken about the future of services.

A maternity services modernisation board was established at the beginning of the year to oversee changes to the system.

One of those changes outlined was to close outlying units in Malton, Whitby and Bridlington and centralise care to Scarborough, fiercely opposed by the public.

Updated: 09:46 Saturday, May 31, 2003