A tribunal has ordered that a former midwife never practise again after finding she had engaged in professional misconduct while giving care to patients at Bacchus Marsh Hospital, north west of Melbourne.
The Bacchus Marsh Hospital was at the centre of a cluster of stillbirths and newborn deaths in 2013 and 2014.
Registered midwife Dianne Jean Macrae was linked to the deaths of three babies at the hospital where she worked as an Associate Nurse Unit Manager at the Djerriwarrh Health Services.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) yesterday found that Ms Macrae had engaged in 10 instances of professional misconduct while providing care to patients at the hospital.
The tribunal accepted an undertaking from Ms Macrae that she would never apply for registration as a midwife again.
Midwife 'failed to respond to urgent situation'
She admitted to all allegations against her, including that she had failed to carry out clinical assessment and care and had inadequately interpreted foetal cardiotocography (CTG).
She also admitted she had failed to recognise and respond to an urgent situation.
An investigation into obstetric and midwifery care at the hospital led Ms Macrae to surrender her registration in 2017.
She was referred to VCAT by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), which both welcomed the VCAT outcome.
In a statement, AHPRA said the investigation was one of a large number started when concerns were raised about obstetric and midwifery care at the Djerriwarrh Health Service.
Overall, AHPRA said it had opened 101 matters in relation to reported stillbirths and neonatal deaths at the Bacchus Marsh Hospital.
It said 84 matters relating to 38 health practitioners had been finalised.
Six practitioners had been cautioned, five practitioners had conditions imposed on their registration and five were referred to a panel hearing or to VCAT.
