THE future of Malton maternity unit will be decided by the Secretary of State after a decision was again deferred at the NHS Trust board meeting yesterday.

Coun John Blackie, chairman of North Yorkshire County Council's scrutiny of health committee, has vowed to use his power to refer the decision to the Health Secretary, Alan Johnson.

Coun Blackie will travel to Westminster in September to lobby to keep Malton, Whitby and Bridlington community hospital maternity units open.

He said: "The maternity units are extremely popular and it would be a blow to the community is these were lost.''