Former Dewsbury nurse suspended for misconduct

Neonatal sister Ruth Caroline Baker left a night shift early in April 2010 when she was in charge of the unit, and failed to arrange adequate care for a ventilated 27 week old baby requiring one-on-one attention, London’s Old Bailey heard.

In February 2011, Miss Baker failed to comply with a request from a consultant to record her involvement in the treatment and resuscitation attempts of a baby as soon as possible after that baby died.

She also failed to properly record the care provided to another baby and her failure to make the necessary checks resulted in that baby being incorrectly labelled in March 2012.

Miss Baker, who first registered as a midwife in 1991, did not attend the five-day hearing which began on March 17, and was not represented.

The panel took into consideration ‘exceptionally good’ references from senior members of staff from the neonatal and maternity units and the ‘difficult personal circumstances’ Miss Baker was in at the time of the incidents.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council committee proceeded in her absence and found that her fitness to practise was impaired.

Miss Baker was given a six month suspension order, to be reviewed by another panel of the Conduct and Competence Committee before it expires.

A statement of the panel’s decision said although her misconduct was serious, it was not necessary to strike her off the nursing register.

Miss Baker is no longer employed by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.