THE future of Guisborough's maternity unit will be discussed at three public meetings.

Following the call for serious debate, Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust arranged the meetings to gauge local opinion.

The trust, which is concerned about the low usage of the maternity unit at Guisborough Primary Care Hospital, has announced the following meetings: Wednesday, July 20, 6.30pm-8pm; Monday, August 8, 3pm-4.30pm; and Tuesday, September 20, 6.30pm-8pm.

The meetings will take place at Guisborough Education and Development Centre, Wilton Lane, Guisborough.

The unit faced an uncertain future in 2003, but was saved following campaigns by staff, mothers-to-be and residents.

Jon Chadwick, chief executive of Langbaurgh PCT, who will be chairing the meetings, said: "We hope to hear from all interested parties, especially those who campaigned over the unit's future in 2003.

"In fact, ahead of the open 'round-table' discussions, we would like those who spoke up at the previous public meetings to contact us, so that we can work together in a bid to move this matter forward."

Speakers will include local GPs, Fran Toller, divisional manager for women's and children's services at South Tees Hospitals Trust, and chief of services and consultant obstetrician Stewart Hutchison, or one of his colleagues, from James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.