EXPECTANT mums living outside Winchester's health trust catchment area could be barred from giving birth at the city's hospital.

That's one of a number of measures being considered by health chiefs as they try to ease a chronic staffing crisis.

The maternity unit at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital still has too few midwives for the number of births, despite a recent six-figure cash injection.

Yesterday a meeting heard that without extra funding several measures may be taken including capping the number of pregnant women who use Florence Portal House.

Emergency transfers could also be axed at the unit - even if an intensive care cot is available while other activities such as antenatal parent education classes could be halted.

Kay Riley, director of nursing, said: "A lot of mothers come to Winchester to have their babies which we are very proud of, but we may have to look at capping our services."

Last autumn the Daily Echo reported how babies were being putting at risk after midwives complained of crippling workloads, long hours and lack of training opportunities.

But one woman, who recently gave birth there and asked not to be named, said today: "It was obvious the levels of stress staff were under. They appeared to be constantly irritable when caring for me. It was worrying.

"The hospital should either fund it properly or close it. Personally I was glad to get out," she said.

Last October a shocking internal report revealed a crisis with midwives complaining of crippling workloads, bullying and harassment, long hours and a lack of proper training opportunities.

The report said the situation had got so bad that managers even considered closure and sending expectant mums to other hospitals.

However yesterday at a meeting of the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Board, members heard that the crisis was easing following a cash injection.

Some £174,000 was found for nine new health care assistants to ease the burden on the midwives.

Money has also been allocated to recruit two more midwives to provide an extra midwife for the night shift and for the on-call rota.

However even with these two extra midwives, the trust will be seven short of the number it needs for the amount of births each year.

Figures presented to the board suggest that for the 2,945 new-borns, the equivalent of 87 midwives are needed up from the current level of 79.

The number of births for 2004 showed an increase of 154 births or 5.5 per cent.

Board chairman Barbara North, said she was pleased with the progress, especially that it had been done in such short time, and praised the level of care provided by staff in the department, but added clearly more could to be done.

Today hospital unions spokesman Doug Smith said: "We feel more needs to be done as soon as possible to alleviate the situation for staff. Clearly we are supporting staff and we will be closely monitoring the number of patients going through the unit and the amount of stress staff are under."

Negotiations are ongoing with the Mid-Hampshire Primary Care Trust for increased funding.