HEALTH Secretary Patricia Hewitt could be called in to secure the future of two maternity units in the region.

Talks are being held over the possible closure of units at Malton and Whitby community hospitals.

Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare Trust says the move will help it provide a safer and improved service for patients across the area, and is now consulting the public on the idea.

It will take its decision on April 3, but North Yorkshire County Council's health scrutiny committee is against the move.

If closure is agreed, it plans to send the case for review, and a final decision, by Ms Hewitt.

If the move is agreed, it will be the first time in the committee's three-year history it has sent a case for review.

John Blackie, chairman of the health committee, said: "If they decide to close the units, we will send it to the Secretary of Health.

"In that instance, nothing can happen until there has been a review of the proposals and a decision taken on them.

"Everything seems to focus on Scarborough General Hospital, and it seems services and staff will be bolstered there at the expense of the other hospitals.

"We have stated our position clearly and I think people are saying it is important to have local services in local hospitals."

The Scarborough trust, which has a £7.2m budget deficit, said the plans were subject to a three-month consultation.

Figures show 46 babies were born at Malton hospital and 43 at Whitby hospital last year.

If the closures are agreed, the next nearest maternity unit is at Scarborough, 20 miles from Whitby and Malton. Regardless of the decision, ante and post-natal services will remain at a local level.

The closure threat saw more than 200 people attend public meetings in Malton and Whitby.

A trust spokesman said: "The trust's board could vote to maintain the status quo, but Scarborough hospital already deals with the majority of babies born and all of those with complications.

"Safety is clearly a factor. Scarborough has the doctors and equipment there if there are problems.

"But the idea of the consultation is to assemble the views of people, and the board will make a decision it feels is the right conclusion to the consultation."

She declined to comment on what the trust's actions would be if the case was sent to the Health Secretary.