Independent panel reaches judgement of facts in relation to midwives Holly Parkinson and Lindsey Biggs
5 July 2016
Today an independent panel of the Nursing and Midwifery Council reached its judgement of the facts in the fitness to practise cases of midwives Lindsey Biggs and Holly Parkinson. Both midwives faced charges that related to their care of Patient C and Baby A in 2008 while working as midwives at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
In respect of Holly Parkinson, the panel’s findings are:
Charge 1 – proved
Failed to document the paediatrician’s advice that Baby A required three hourly observations.
Charge 2 – not proved
Failed to document the care you gave to Baby A in the maternal notes.
Charge 3 – proved
Failed to escalate Baby A’s low temperature to a paediatrician between 16:00 and 21:00.
Charge 4 – proved
Your actions at charges 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 above caused Baby A to lose a significant chance of survival.
In respect of Lindsey Biggs, the panel’s findings are:
Charge 1 – proved
Failed to ensure that Baby A’s observations were conducted between 03:00 and 06:50.
Charge 2 – proved
Failed to escalate Baby A’s low temperature to a paediatrician at approximately 06:50.
Charge 3 – proved in relation to Patient C, but not proved in relation to Baby A
Failed to record adequately the care provided to Patient C and/or Baby A in the maternal notes.
Charge 4 – proved
Your conduct as set out at charge 1 and/or 2 and/or 3 above caused Baby A to lose a significant chance of survival.
Following today’s finding of the facts, the panel has now adjourned. It will reconvene at a later date in order to consider whether the fitness to practise of midwives Holly Parkinson and Lindsey Biggs is currently impaired and whether sanctions are necessary. This date will be confirmed shortly
-End-
Notes for editors
1. For media enquiries, please contact NMC press office on 020 7681 5649 or email media@nmc-uk.org.
2. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent professional regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK. We exist to protect the public. We do this by maintaining the register of qualified nurses and midwives and setting standards of education, training, conduct and performance. We make sure that nurses and midwives keep their skills and knowledge up to date through a regular revalidation process. If concerns are raised about the standards of a registered nurse or midwife, we have a duty to investigate and, where necessary, take action to protect the public.
