PUBLIC concern over the future of Malton's maternity unit is mounting, with growing pressure for residents to have their say.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Community Health Council (CHC) met members of the public in Malton yesterday, to face tough questioning.

Ryedale District Councillor Brian Cottam said he remained sceptical of assurances by the NHS Trust, and members of the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust present at the meeting, that they would preserve the community units.

"I think one of the biggest problems here seems to me a continuation of the permanent threat that Malton Hospital has been under for a great number of years," he said.

"It seems the situation never gets any better."

CHC board members agreed it was vital a genuine attempt at public consultation took place.

Jill Knight said: "I think at this stage they are still discussing process, and I would like to see the Community Health Council represented on that board, in order that we can filter through the views of people on their community hospitals."

Malton resident Sheila Miller, a member of the CHC, said she hoped residents would be informed about how they could put their views across.

"I have already been approached by several people in the town asking who can they write to," she told the public meeting, which took place at the Old Lodge.

Chairman James Preston said that NHS Trust director Dale Meegan, at Scarborough Hospital, was heading a board set up to examine modernising maternity services. Residents could forward their concerns to her, he explained.

Derek Bartrop, head of patient and public involvement at the primary care trust, tried to reassure the CHC and the public that they were only looking at the possibility of modernising the service.

"I think it's very important for local mums-to-be to hear the message that actually they are not under threat - what is happening is a review," he said.

"These units are not under threat, and so local mums, particularly those expecting in the next few weeks or months, should not be anxious."

CHC board member Helen Rutter was appointed to sit on the trust's recently-resurrected maternity services liaison committee, which was expected to link in closely with the NHS Trust's newly-appointed board.

Updated: 12:09 Tuesday, January 14, 2003