A MUCH-LOVED maternity unit in the North-East was earmarked for closure yesterday after a long battle to keep it open.

Langbaurgh Primary Care Trust (PCT) decided at its board meeting that the number of births at Guisborough Maternity Unit did not justify it's existence.

Members conducted an informal three-month programme of public discussions concerning the unit before coming to their decision.

The unit delivers 120 babies a year and is sometimes empty. PCT chief executiveJon Chadwick said it needed between 300 and 500 babies delivered there to make it viable.

Mr Chadwick "sympathised enormously" with those opposed to the idea of closure.

He said: "It is very sad. People have massive feelings and emotions towards the unit.

"That is something the board have wrestled with, but it is currently losing £100,000 to £200,000 a year.

"If we kept it open, we would have to make up that money from somewhere."

A formal three-month consultation process will now take place followed by a review by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's overview and scrutiny committee. A report will be presented to the PCT early next year before a final decision is taken.

However, Mr Chadwick believes the unit may still stay open for certain maternity services such as pre- and ante-natal care. If the unit is closed, employees from Guisborough will be redeployed to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Redcar and Cleveland's cabinet member for health and social services, Valerie Halton, said: "We believe the money used to keep it open should be directed towards front line services. In the past when women were kept in for longer they wanted to be close to home so people could visit them easily, but now they are only in for a day or two."

Ashok Kumar, MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, said he knew the numbers problem was a real issue that could not be ducked, but that he wanted to look at the figures in detail before any decision.

He said: "I'm also seeking assurance that both trusts have considered the impact of the Darzi report for maternity services at James Cook Hospital and the knock-on effect that could have for mothers to be in Guisborough and east Cleveland."