THE campaign to reopen a popular birthing centre in Petersfield has been dealt a hammer blow after it was revealed that a midwife crisis at Portsmouth Hospitals Trust (PHT) was worse than expected. PHT bosses have revealed that whole-time equivalent staff shortages rose from 22 in July last year, when The Grange was temporarily shut, to 41 this week - seven months after the closure. Now campaigners believe the latest twist has put the Swan Street centre's future in "serious doubt". And campaign leader Sarah Roberts told The Herald this week that the public deserved the "real truth behind the closure". She said: "With no decrease in the number on maternity leave, increased sickness and 12 vacancies the situation is much worse than last summer and shows no sign of improving. "I believe that PHT has no intention of reopening and I feel it is time that the public deserve the real truth behind these closures. "I believe that the staff shortages in the summer were seen as an 'opportunity' to make changes within the maternity system as a whole. "The current NHS options appraisal will be the final nail in The Grange's coffin and the PHT will have made these 'efficiencies in the current maternity service' at great cost to families, babies and new parents across the Petersfield area. "The campaign group feels that The Grange's future in Petersfield is seriously in doubt. "The Save the Grange Campaign Group continue to support midwives working hard, producing quality service under the constraints of low staff numbers, increased hours and low morale." The latest information came from an internal e-mail exchange at Portsmouth Hospital Trust headquarters in which head of midwifery Donna Ockendon said: "I know we need to take a longer term view and I understand the political implications. I believe we are providing a multi-site service that is unaffordable". Ian Golland, the trust's divisional clinical director, replied: "It seems that there are some potential efficiencies that can be met by rationalisation of the current maternity services, although at political cost and being seen to be removing choice or local services." Mr Golland continued: "There is an impending problem with staffing during the summer months. We also need to have the prospect or possibility of achieving the financial balance we seek. We feel it is time to present proposals for change." Mrs Ockendon was unavailable for comment as The Herald went to press. Pat Forsyth from the trust told The Herald that job advertisements had already been posted and that The Grange would reopen when it was safe to do so. She said: "We need sufficient levels of staff across the service before it is safe to reopen. "The trust has always said it will be reopened when it is safe to do so. But that won't be before the end of the current financial year on March 31." q A public meeting, to be chaired by East Hampshire MP Michael Mates, has been planned for February 22 in Petersfield's Festival at 8 pm. The meeting will be attended by the PHT's chief executive, Ursula Ward. And campaigners are being given another chance to make their voices heard at Westminster next week. Several campaign members are going back to the House of Commons on February 1 to meet Liam Byrne, the health minister in charge of implementing the Maternity Standard of the Children's National Service Framework.