Laura Herbert and Briony Molyneux succeed in joint NMC case.

Briony and Laura represented midwifes working at a stand-alone birth centre who were accused of multiple serious charges, in front of the NMC Fitness to Practise panel. These allegations included actions such as attempting to remove a placenta inappropriately after birth, failing to inform the hospital of the patients condition, and failings in recording and timekeeping.

Through successful cross examination of key NMC witnesses, at the close of the NMC case, the NMC themselves conceded they had no case to answer on the serious charges in relation to the placenta and the timing of the information passed to the hospital of the patient’s condition.

Early admissions had been made by both midwifes in relation to other allegations, and following the findings of facts by the FTP Panel, both Briony and Laura successfully argued that both midwifes were currently fit to practise and the panel determined that “given the extensive and intense work you have undergone together with your training, reflections, admissions, remorse and insight” that both had sufficiently remedied the conduct that led to the charges. The Panel further determined there was no need for a finding of impairment in the public interest alone; and therefore it was not necessary for either midwife to be subject to any NMC sanction.