A MIDWIFE who told parents to mourn their baby while still alive has been suspended.

Julia Laban was working as a midwife at Basildon Hospital when a woman with a history of miscarriages and postnatal complications was admitted.

At a tribunal of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Ms Laban was found to have committed a catalogue of errors during the patient’s premature labour of her second child.

This included not moving the woman to the delivery suite when she showed signs of labour, not seeking assistance from a doctor, leaving the woman alone during the delivery of the baby and not beginning resuscitation when the baby, who was born at 23 weeks, showed signs of life.

The tribunal heard that the woman, Patient A, was admitted to Basildon Hospital after her waters broke prematurely on August 24, 2015.

Over the next few days, Patient A’s condition was monitored but on August 29, she began experiencing pain but said no action was taken by Ms Laban.

Later that day, with only her partner with her, she began to feel the urge to push but no midwife was present. While her partner was trying to get help, Patient A realised she had given birth to her baby.

The panel heard Ms Laban failed to commence resuscitation or seek help from a doctor. She also failed to administer a drug which could have prevented postnatal complications for the mother, who had a history of haemorrhage in previous pregnancies.

After the birth, Ms Laban told parents they needed to mourn the baby’s death, despite the baby still receiving treatment to keep the baby alive.

Panel chairman Edward Lucas said: “Your state of mind, with regards to the baby, had been pre-determined before his birth and your belief that the baby would not be viable guided and determined your actions. The charges are extremely serious and your misconduct resulted in harm to a patient which had the potential to cause physical harm.

Ms Laban has been suspended for 18 months to allow for time to appeal but if no appeal is made she will be struck off.

Dawn Patience, director of nursing at Basildon Hospital, said: “We regret that the normally outstanding standard of care that our antenatal service is recognised for was not consistently provided by a former employee.

“This is a historic case; the midwife in question was referred by us to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and no longer works here.

“Providing safe high quality care to our patients is a key priority and we are consistently monitoring and strengthening the care we provide.”