MIDWIVES at a maternity unit threatened with closure say they are trying to remain positive.

The Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust has outlined plans to plug a £13m deficit.

One proposal is to close the maternity unit at Malton Hospital, in North Yorkshire.

Senior midwife Margaret Walker said cost-cutting at the hospital was already having an effect.

She said that when she began running the unit three years ago, she had 18 staff.

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

"The team at the maternity unit has worked really hard to keep things positive for the women," she said.

"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."

Ms Walker 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 they do."

Bosses at the NHS trust recently launched their plans for the future of maternity services in the area.

Members of the public can view the consultation document on the trust's website, www.scarborough.nhs.uk

A three-month consultation over the future of the maternity unit has begun.

The consultation period runs until March 18.