MIDWIVES in Malton fear the worst for 2007 as they face further staff cuts and the threat of closure.

Hard-working maternity staff have been putting on a brave face but cannot assure new mothers that they will be there next year.

On Thursday mothers and midwives gathered for a Christmas get-together but the celebrations were overshadowed by a cloud of doubt over Malton Hospital maternity unit's future.

Senior midwife Margaret Walker said that when she took over managing the unit three years ago she had 18 staff.

Now there are just seven trained midwives based in the wing.

She said: "The team at the maternity unit have worked really hard to keep things positive for the women.

"We are still taking bookings for deliveries but we don't know if they will be able to have their babies here after the end of the consultation period.

"People in Malton want services to be kept local. We offer a first class service here and women choose to give birth in Malton. It would be a shame for everybody if this was to go."

Throughout the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health care NHS Trust area, cutbacks are being made to plug a multi-million pound black hole in their finances.

Just last week it was revealed that the trust' chief executive Alison Guy and finance director Bernard Flynn had been forced to step down in the face of repeated criticism over their leadership. As part of a ''turnaround plan'', new troubleshooter health bosses are making drastic changes in services to ease the financial burden.

But the head midwife in Malton said this was increasing the strain on her department.

She added: "Staff are obviously concerned that they might not have a job next year. We are in a situation now where they are short staffed in Scarborough Hospital so midwives here are being drafted in.

"It's sad times for everybody within the trust. But we have to face the public every day and we cannot give them any assurances because we know as much as them."

Despite the cloud of uncertainty hanging over their future, midwives in Malton invited mothers and their babies to celebrate the festive season with a relaxed coffee morning.

One of the mums, Rebecca Craven, from York, opted to have her baby, Annabelle, at the cosy unit using the popular birthing pool. If health chiefs get their way and all deliveries are stopped at the unit, the pool will also go.

The 31-year-old said: "I chose to come here because everybody is so friendly and they have the birthing pool.

"I was in labour for 11 hours but the midwives were brilliant and really went the extra mile.

"With all this uncertainty it would be a shame for mothers if we couldn't have our babies here."

More than 50 mothers gathered in the maternity wing for a chat and a chance to thank staff for their care over the last 12 months.

First-time mum Shanie Burton added: "We are all worried about the future of the unit - the trust should treasure a service like this, not threaten it with the chop."

l Plans outlining the future of Malton maternity unit are now available to the public for the first time.

Bosses from Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Healthcare NHS Trust have launched their vision for the future of maternity services in the area.

Members of the public can view the 'consultation document' on the trust's website, outlining their plans to stop all deliveries at Malton Hospital.

This has kicked-off a three-month period of consultation with the community, health professionals and councils over the future of the wing.

Trust interim chief executive Iain McInnes said people can contribute to the consultation by e-mail, letter or by attending a series of public meetings.

He has insisted that the plans are not a 'done deal' and the plans for maternity services will only be decided at the end of the discussion period.

He said: "We would like to know what people think about the proposals in these documents. I hope that everyone will take this opportunity to tell us their views and influence the shape of local healthcare services for the future."

The consultation period runs from December 21 to March 18.