A midwife who carried out medical procedures on a baby and a mother after a caesarean section when she was not trained to do so has been struck off.

Nancy Ann Webb was employed as a Band 7 midwife and delivery suite shift co-ordinator at Darent Valley Hospital when the incidents occurred in March 2012 and October 2013.

Last year, Mrs Webb was given a 12-month suspension order by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and has now been formally struck off the medical register following a review hearing.

The conduct and competence committee ruled that Mrs Webb, who did not attend, continued to pose a risk to patient safety.

It heard that this was a serious case where there was a “real risk of harm to patients”.

The committee had originally drawn back from imposing a striking-off order as Mrs Webb was an “otherwise experienced midwife” who had shown genuine regret and remorse.

"Mrs Webb would need to demonstrate a significant amount of insight and remediation to establish that her fitness to practise without restriction is not currently impaired in the light of the serious misconduct in this case"

Mrs Webb’s fitness to practise was found to be impaired by misconduct at the earlier hearing, which found all charges were proved.

These included failing to ensure paediatrician presence at an instrumental delivery of a baby in March 2012, a newborn’s intubation – placing a flexible plastic tube into the windpipe – when not clinically trained and failing to adequately document her care of the baby’s mother.

Other charges related to an incident in October 2013 when Mrs Webb stitched a patient following a caesarean birth when not clinically trained and without disclosing this to two doctors.

She also failed to obtain the patient’s consent and did not promptly note her care of the woman.

At a review hearing in London last week the panel heard that despite being offered the opportunity to send supporting evidence or information to the NMC for the review, none was received from Mrs Webb.

The hearing also took into account that her misconduct demonstrated an attitude problem in that she had acted “outside the scope of her competence”.

It also noted that she had failed to realise the consequences of her own failures by “continuously deflecting the blame” on to others.

The committee said: “The panel has taken into account the gravity of a striking-off order and the fact that it will prevent Mrs Webb from practising as midwife or nurse.

“However, the panel considered that a striking-off order to protect the public and the public interest outweighs her interests.

“The panel is not satisfied that if Mrs Webb were to return to practice unrestricted, she would not repeat her misconduct.

“Mrs Webb would need to demonstrate a significant amount of insight and remediation to establish that her fitness to practise without restriction is not currently impaired in the light of the serious misconduct in this case.

“Accordingly, the panel has determined that Mrs Webb’s fitness to practise remains impaired by reason of her misconduct and that some restriction on her practice is necessary in order to protect the public, to uphold professional standards and to maintain confidence in the profession and the Nursing and Midwifery Council as a regulator.”

A spokesman for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said: “Patients can feel confident that we will act to ensure patient safety, professional care and high standards are paramount at their local hospital.

“We continue to monitor professional midwifery practice at Darent Valley Hospital and would take any steps necessary to safeguard the wellbeing of mums and babies.”