Former midwife at scandal-hit hospital struck off for misconduct
A former midwife whose actions were said to have contributed to the deaths of two babies is to be struck off, a misconduct tribunal has ruled.
Marie Ratcliffe, who worked at scandal-hit Furness General Hospital in Barrow, Cumbria, did not fight the claims against her.
She did not show up last month for the start of her hearing at the Nursing and Midwifery Council in London, and did not send a lawyer to represent her. Today she was ordered to be struck off the register.
The panel heard she accepted allegations relating to her involvement in the treatment of 14 patients at the hospital between February 2004 and September 2013.
The panel said Mrs Ratcliffe's failings were numerous and involved 14 patients and 68 proved charges.
It accepted Mrs Ratcliffe has demonstrated some remorse in her letter, but was of the view she had sought to distance herself from her own culpability.
She had demonstrated an uncaring and unempathetic approach to patients, and a cavalier approach to monitoring the vitals of patients and unborn babies.
"The panel is of the view that it is this attitude that underpinned her failings," it said.