Conquest tragedy

A BABY died when two midwives ignored a consultant's instructions and failed to monitor the mother-to-be, a misconduct hearing was told.

Midwives Sandra Bickers and Peter Davies should have checked constantly at the Conquest but only did so every 30 to 45 minutes, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

The baby was still-born and the mother needed emergency surgery.

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The pregnant woman, known as patient A, had a caesarean with her first child, but was told by her consultant she could have a natural delivery with her second child if the baby's heart was monitored, the panel heard.

Lara Robson, for the NMC, said: "Mrs Bickers had a conversation with patient A about monitoring at the Conquest Hospital on June 16 2004.

"During patient A's labour she was not continually monitored and Bickers did not make any future reference to this.

"She says patient A refused constant monitoring.

"When Mr Davies took over care of patient A he did not discuss continuous monitoring and made an assumption by what Bickers had told him rather than speaking to the patient.

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"According to his notes Mr Davies monitored her every 15 minutes until birth. However, patient A and her husband say he did not do so.

"Patient A suffered a still-born birth and ruptured uterus and required urgent surgery."

The morning following the still-born birth Mrs Bickers made an inappropriate and unprofessional comment to patient A regarding the consultant, it is claimed.

Speaking of her failure to insert a constant fetal monitor, Bickers allegedly said: "What he doesn't know can't hurt him.

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"Given patient A had just lost her baby Bickers seemed to underestimate the feeling of the patient."

Both midwives continue to be employed by the East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust. The pair have since undergone further training and were removed from the delivery ward.

The interim suspension panel heard from Bickers and three of her supervisors who all claim she is fit to practice.

She said: "Now I can recognise if I'm getting into a situation and I'm feeling stressful or unsure, and can excuse myself for a few moments and obtain a colleague's assistance."

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Melanie Every, representing Bickers, said: "I think the public should be reassured by the practices Mrs Bickers has gone through and she was particularly willing to seek support in areas necessary."

Committee chairman Val Morrison imposed a Conditions of Practice Order on both midwives which means neither nurse can work in the delivery ward and they must remain within the boundaries set by the hospital.

The pair will face a full hearing on a date to be fixed.