HEALTH chiefs in the New Forest have backed putting controversial plans to axe three birthing centres out to public consultation.

Early discussions have been held about the possibility of closing maternity facilities at Hythe, Romsey and Lymington, as reported in the Daily Echo.

Bosses at Southampton University Hospitals Trust (SUHT), which provides the services, are thinking about transferring them all to Snowdon House, part of Ashurst Hospital.

It links in with another highly contentious proposal to close the rehabilitation unit at Snowdon House and move services to the Western Community Hospital, Southampton.

Health bosses were anxious to stress that no decisions have been made yet at a New Forest Primary Care Trust board meeting at Colbury Memorial Hall yesterday.

John Richards, chief executive of the board, said: "A lot of people may say: 'You have got a grand plan, it is all a fait accompli', but this is an open process to be taken forward from here.

"There are opportunities to be taken from linking the two together but equally there are very real choices being made available as a result of opening up these discussions."

After a review of the maternity services, SUHT chiefs have decided the quality of care needs to be improved and made more efficient.

Karen Baker of SUHT, gave a presentation to the New Forest PCT board about the recent review.

She said the three birthing sites in the Forest currently only have an average occupancy of 54 per cent and that re-organising them onto one site would save £245,000.

Addressing the SUHT representatives, Wendy Pettifer of the New Forest PCT, said: "It is your consultation but it is our people that will be using the service.

"Plainly to people using the service, they don't care who is providing it. They just want the service they need."