Wrong conclusion made after Guernsey hospital baby death

Three midwives are facing misconduct charges relating to work at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital

A senior nurse wrongly concluded there were "no major midwifery issues" after the death of a newborn baby, a tribunal has heard.

Lisa Granville was working at Princess Elizabeth Hospital in Guernsey when Baby A was born in January 2014.

The child died a few days later and Ms Granville's investigation decided there were "no issues with the practical midwifery care delivered".

Midwives Tuija Roussel and Antonia Manousaki also face misconduct charges.

More on the nurses hearing, and other news from around the Channel Islands

Ms Granville had made a similar finding in the death of another baby at the hospital, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing was told.

'Inadequate care'

Ann Thompson, manager of the unit, contacted NHS England because she was so concerned about standards of care at the hospital.

She thought Ms Granville's investigation into the death of Baby A was not being properly conducted.

In a subsequent investigation, NMC investigator Helen Pearce found "inadequate care" and "concerns about midwives acting outside the scope of their practice".

Midwives failed to speak to consultants when heart rate monitors indicated the baby was in difficulty, the tribunal heard.

The NMC claims that had the death of one baby been adequately investigated, the other may have survived

They were also found "to be providing unsafe and inadequate standards of care to women and babies attending" the hospital.

Ms Pearce said she was concerned that the drug Syntocinon - used to ease childbirth - may have been freely used without consultation.

The hearing has previously been told that had the death been properly investigated, a second child's death in similar circumstances in 2014 might have been avoided.

Ms Granville admits failing to identify inadequate midwifery care and that her investigation into the death of Baby A was inadequate. She denies all other charges.

Ms Manousaki admits administering Syntocinon without a written prescription but denies failing to challenge a culture of midwives acting outside the scope of their practice.

Ms Roussel admits administering Syntocinon without a written prescription and participating in inappropriate working practices.

The hearing, sitting in London, continues.