Women in Wharfedale and Aireborough are being given the chance to discuss plans to drop the current option of giving birth at St James's Hopsital, Leeds.

As part of the proposed changes to services at Leeds General Infirmary, St James's Hospital and Wharfedale Hospital in Otley, an informal consultation is due to take place in Otley next month.

And representatives from The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, senior midwives and consultant obstetricians will be at Otley Methodist Church Hall on February 10 to answer questions and discuss the changes.

Evie Chandler, from the new Wharfedale National Childbirth Trust, which is helping to organise the event, said she hoped as many women as possible would go. "The day is part of a series of public consultations because of proposed changes to maternity services currently offered in the two Leeds hospitals and Wharfedale hospital.

"Trust managers, senior midwives and consultant obstetricians will be present to explain the proposed changes and ask for feedback from the public," said Mrs Chandler. At present, women expecting babies have the choice of going to Wharfedale Hospital or Harrogate District Hospital for all their antenatal care. They can then have their babies at either St James's Hospital or the Clarendon Wing at the Leeds General Infirmary or at Harrogate.

A spokesman for the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the information day was an informal event aimed at sharing information with people and was not part of the Leeds Health Authority's own public consultation which would take place later. He said it was not proposed that antenatal care was removed from Otley but that births in the future be centred at the LGI's Clarendon Wing.

"The meeting is for people in the Aireborough and Wharfedale areas just to give them more idea about the proposed changes before the formal consultation," the spokesman said.

The information day in Otley will take place from 10am to 1pm. A free creche and lunch will be available and transport is possible for those who need it. To book a place on the creche and for details about transport, telephone Carol Burns on (0113) 2762851.

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