Midwife denies allegation of misconduct (From Western Telegraph)

Midwife denies allegation of misconduct

A MIDWIFE left a distressed Haverfordwest mother to deliver her own baby after she failed to visit her when she was in labour, it was alleged at an inquiry last week.

Rosemary Ann Robertson, aged 48, ignored concerned phone calls from the 'dismayed' 35-year-old and turned up five minutes after the child had been born, it was claimed.

At a hearing in central London, the Nursing and Midwifery Council heard how her client, referred to as Mrs A, was left to deliver her own baby in a near empty birthing pool after a plumbing problem left her with no water.

The committee heard how her partner, Mr B, spent hours making trips to a nearby stream to collect water using saucepans, which he then heated on the stove to fill it.

But Hereford-based Robertson, claimed she did everything to assist Mrs A, who appeared 'happy and positive' during phone calls prior to the birth in the early hours of January 21st, 2003.

Both mother and baby were declared well after the birth, but Mrs A reported Robertson's behaviour to local midwifery authorities.

The couple had hired Robertson, an independent midwife, in June 2002, because of a lack of specialists in their area.

They had even rented a cottage in Cwmyoy, some 20 minutes from Robertson's base, to be near to her for the birth.

Robertson denies failing to visit Mrs A after being told she was in labour and failing to respond to her concerns.

But she admitted failing to make contemporaneous notes of their telephone conversations.

Robertson, who qualified as a midwife in 1980, could be struck off the nursing register if the charges are proved and she is found guilty of misconduct.

The hearing was adjourned to a date to be arranged after the proceedings ran out of time.