Midwife Geraldine Foley made mistakes during the s

Midwife Geraldine Foley made mistakes during the still birth of two other babies in the space of three years at North Hampshire Hospital, the inquiry heard.

Mrs Foley, who admitted misconduct, accepted she is not competent to work as a midwife.

But she pleaded to be allowed to continue working as a registered nurse caring for the elderly in Greenbanks Nursing Home.

Foley was first put under supervision after she failed to monitor the heart rate of a baby who was later stillborn in December 1994.

The heart beat of the child inside the 23 year-old mother remained abnormal for two and a half hours before the delivery.

Mrs Foley then forged a doctor’s signature on a request for a postmortem.

A disciplinary hearing found she had failed to take appropriate action and she took a course in foetal monitoring in May 1995.

But in August 1997 the baby of a 17 year-old was stillborn in her care after she did not make any observations in a one hour and 20 minute stretch before delivery.

A second disciplinary hearing found she had failed to adequately monitor the heart rate or liaise with the medical team.

The postmortem found an overwhelming infection to be the cause of death.

Mrs Foley was demoted a grade and put under supervision for six months before taking maternity leave.

She returned to work in March 1999.

Mrs Foley told the committee: ‘I no longer wish to practice as a midwife.

I do not trust myself.

‘These incidents have made me ashamed and guilty.

But I always tried to work to the best of my abilities.

‘I wasn’t competent, I cannot deny that.

‘

The hearing continues.

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Mrs Foley escaped with a caution for misconduct.

Chairman Miss Eunice Foster said the committee did not feel she was a danger to the public.

She added: ‘We have decided that although your actions are regarded as professional misconduct your name should not be removed from the register.

‘The committee has decided to give you a caution.

You should appreciate it is a very serious matter to be found guilty of misconduct and you must understand the committee does not condone or excuse your actions in any way.

‘The committee is more than satisfied you have the proper insight into what has happened and do not consider you to be a risk to the public.

‘

The caution will stay on her record for five years.

Foley, whose maiden name is Cunningham, qualified as a nurse in 1984.

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