A MIDWIFE has been accused of a catalogue of blunders including “strangling” a newborn baby with its umbilical cord.

Mercy Ngozi Okeke denies the errors that allegedly took place at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup between January 3 and February 24 2006.

During a Nursing and Midwifery Council misconduct hearing on Monday (October 24), it was alleged Okeke had injected two patients in the wrong place.

Her colleagues reported she had not carried out vaginal exams properly and had also caused a pregnant woman 'unnecessary worry' when she failed to use vital heart monitoring equipment appropriately.

She allegedly left the woman’s mother to plug in the monitor as she struggled to find the child's heartbeat.

In a three page letter to bosses, Okeke’s colleague, Helen Foreman says on one occasion, the midwife “effectively strangled” a newborn baby after placing it on its mother’s stomach without untangling the cord.

She said: “Mercy cannot be relied upon to act safely and react to clinical change.

“She could not find her scissors to cut the cord and she did not unravel the cord from around the baby's neck.”

But Okeke insisted to the council the incident never happened.

She said: “If we delivered a baby, if this happened, I would have cut the cord before placing the baby on the mother.”

In July 2006, Okeke went on to work as an agency nurse for Newham University Hospital.

It is alleged she allowed a patient to remove spinal immobilisation equipment in order for her to use the toilet, despite being instructed to use a bedpan.

She is also accused of failing to sign a patient's medication chart while working in the coronary care unit.

Okeke then took up work at King George Hospital in Essex between October 9 and December 1, 2006.

During a skills assessment at the hospital, she allegedly failed to prove she was capable of injections, vaginal exams, record keeping, safe drug administration and effective communication.

Okeke, who trained at King George Hospital in conjunction with South Bank University, resigned from her first post at Whipps Cross Hospital in east London after just eight months in December 2005.

She was placed on a period of 'supported practice' after concerns about her competence emerged.

But Okeke said she was not aware of being subject to supported practice, saying she had asked for extra training herself.

She also claimed she was bullied by the supervisor of midwives, Winnie Tovey, who was in charge of the programme.

Okeke said: “Tovey tormented my life, she would follow me harassing me, with staff laughing at me.”

When asked why there was no record of her making any such complaint at the time, the midwife claimed she had raised it with her manager.

The midwife could be struck off if she is found guilty of the charges against her.

The hearing continues.