Evidence against healthcare workers heard at tribunal
COVERED FACE: Yvonne Musonda-Malata exits the NMC tribunal on November 11 (PA)
TWO MIDWIVES at an Essex hospital placed a four-day-old baby on its stomach in a cupboard meant for stationery so its mother could sleep, a tribunal has been told.
The midwives – Yvonne Musonda-Malata, 35, and Christine Onade, 46 – are accused of failing their duty to provide correct care at Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
Both are facing a tribunal before the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) over the incident that is alleged to have taken place in April 2011.
The pair deny the allegation, and also reject accusations they failed to record when they fed the baby.
On April 18, 2011, the allegation came to light following nursery nurse Alex Curtis finding the baby in the cupboard at about 6.30am.
Presenting the case against Musonda-Malata and Onade to the NMC, Derek Zeitlin said Musonda-Malata put the child, referred to as “Baby A”, in the cupboard after it became unsettled and disturbed its mother.
HEARING: Christine Onade leaves the tribunal on November 11 (PA)
He told the tribunal: “There came a stage where [Musonda-Malata] was called away to another patient and was away for about 20 minutes.
“The next thing that happened was a member of the nursing staff went to the cupboard and was shocked to find Baby A inside.”
Curtis, acting as a witness, told the hear that she visited “the post-natal ward to get an envelope from the stationery cupboard and found a baby lying on its tummy on its own”.
She said that she checked to see “if it was still breathing”, and added: “We always lie a baby on its back as there is a risk of cot death”.
Another midwife, Rita Skeats, told the NMC she “recommended that the baby be cared for at the nursery, but [Musonda-Malata] and Ms Onade said they were coping OK and would keep the baby there”.
The tribunal continues.
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