Midwives found guilty of misconduct over Telford hospital baby death

Katie Anson's son Kye Hall died at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford on August 19 2015, four days after he was born.

Midwives Kerry Davies, Laura Jones, and Hayley Lacey faced claims they did not properly monitor Kye's birth or adequately hand over his care between them when they appeared at a misconduct hearing in London.

During his stay at the hospital, Kye's heart rate went up to more than 100 beats per minute and he was immediately given a ventilation mask.

But he died four days later.

Misconduct hearing

Appearing before the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the three midwives accepted they each failed at some point during Kye's care.

They admitted they each failed to check his foetal heart rate at different times prior to his transfer from the Midwife Led Unit into the Consultant Led Unit at the hospital.

But the panel ruled today that only Jones and Lacey's fitness to practice was impaired by reason of misconduct.

The pair were charged with three breaches each, which the panel said amounted to an impaired fitness to practice.

Davies was cleared of misconduct and any impairment after admitting not recording the foetal heart rate at 8.05pm, shortly before Kye was transferred to the Consultant Led Unit.

Jones and Lacey now face suspensions or cautions lasting up to five years.

Siobhan Caslin, for the NMC, did not call for either midwife to be struck off.

Remorse and reflection

Ms Caslin said that although Lacey was found to have put Ms Anson at an "unwarranted risk of harm", she has showed significant insight and remorse.

The panel has heard Lacey had reflected significantly on events and took the feelings of Kye's family to heart.

Thomas Buxton, representing Lacey, said: "Her shame and contrition are evident and further more it has been that good and safe practice have been evidence in the last three and a half years."

Jones and Lacey each denied being responsible for the care of the mother at 6.05pm and 6.20pm when they are said to have failed to have recorded the foetal heartbeat.

Jones was found to have been responsible for the patient during that period but insisted that Lacey had not handed over responsibility which was not accepted by the panel.

The tribunal heard Jones had shown less insight into her actions and was said to have tried to shift the blame from herself to others.

Referring to Jones, Ms Caslin said: "Unlike midwife Lacey, midwife Jones' acts were not at the lower end of the spectrum.

"You have recognised that midwife Jones' insight is only developing.

"The NMC would say the appropriate action is a suspension order for a period of four to six months with a review before extension.

"It would give her an opportunity to demonstrate that she has developed significant insight into the importance of her actions on others."

The Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust is currently being investigated under the orders of former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt following a 'cluster' of baby deaths on its maternity wards.

The tribunal continues.