SENIOR politicians have rounded on Health Secretary, Alan Johnson, who has scuppered eleventh hour hopes of saving Malton Hospital’s maternity unit.

As a result of his decision, which followed a detailed inquiry by the Department of Health, mums-to-be will have their babies either at Scarborough or York hospitals.

Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York and prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate for the new Thirsk and Malton constituency, said she was “disappointed” by the minister’s decision.

“This will diminish access to maternity services in Malton and subject expectant mothers to longer car journeys with bad winter weather and heavy traffic in summer. Mothers in rural areas have as much right to choose where to give birth as those living in urban areas,” she said.

Howard Keal, the Prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for the new constituency, said he had written to Mr Johnson accusing him of failing to listen to the public.

The DoH’s Independent Reconfiguration Panel had cited the sharp fall in births at Malton Hospital.

Mr Keal said: “This has been a manufactured situation brought about through a campaign of closure by stealth.

“Access to services has been steadily reduced with cuts to both opening hours and staffing.”

He added: “Mums want Malton’s maternity unit to stay open.” He has asked Mr Johnson to overturn his previous decision announced last week.

Meanwhile, County Coun Mike Knaggs said the closure would add to the cost of travel to hospitals at York or Scarborough as well as the concern for new mums. “We have excellent maternity facilities at Malton and they should be used,” he told last week’s meeting of North Yorkshire County Council.

He was supported by Norton’s member, County Coun David Lloyd-Williams, who said: “This is a sad day for our two towns. There is overwhelming proof that Malton Hospital’s unit is very well run and a real asset in our vast rural area. It is totally unacceptable that it should be closed.”