MANAGERS have refused to set a deadline for the reopening of a maternity unit.

South Tees NHS Trust chief executive Bill Murray made it clear that no date had been set for the reopening of Guisborough Maternity Unit .

He was responding to a council investigation into the temporary closure of the unit last November which was greeted with a storm of protest.

Mr Murray said: "We understand Redcar and Cleveland Council's desire to have the maternity ward re-opened as soon as possible and again we can only reiterate that is our own intention.

"The Trust has been working extremely hard to recruit midwives and has been successful in filling seven posts. However it would be wrong to try to predict a re-opening date - when it will re-open is heavily based on the Trust's success in recruiting and retaining midwives, which is a national problem."

Mr Murray also took on the council's view that women felt that the personal touch was sacrificed for the sake of new technology at The James Cook University Hospital maternity unit.

Mr Murray said: "Again I can only stress we have never seen hi-tech care as exclusive to providing tender loving care. The fact so many low risk mothers choose to have their babies at The James Cook University Hospital and, when asked, are satisfied with the care and service they receive speaks for itself."

The council had also said the NHS Trust should analyse transport problems for pregnant women in rural East Cleveland. Mr Murray said: "We are already working with the local councils on transport issues."