A midwife could face being struck off after the death of a baby.
Brenda Hinshaw was sacked from her post as midwifery team leader at Perth Royal Infirmary in February.
The profession’s governing body, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), has since placed her under a conditions of practice order while it investigates.
Should the matter go before a full hearing, one of the sanctions Ms Hinshaw could receive is a striking off order.
An NMC panel heard that on July 22 last year a woman was transferred as an emergency to the labour suite at Ninewells Hospital from Perth’s community maternity unit. Her baby, which was delivered via caesarean section, was not breathing at birth and half an hour of resuscitation attempts failed.
A subsequent investigation raised concerns over Ms Hinshaw’s decision-making at the community maternity unit.
It was also alleged that records of the care provided by Ms Hinshaw were not of the standard expected of a registered midwife.
The panel was also told that after a birth on June 15 2013 the mother developed a severe uterine bleed and concerns were raised that Ms Hinshaw, who has practised as a midwife for 33 years, did not identify or address the problem quickly enough.
She was suspended from her post in September and claimed she had been too “busy” to ensure her notes reflected the care she had given on July 22.
She also denied ignoring the haemorrhaging mother but acknowledged her records did not show this.
Ms Hinshaw blamed the situation on high sickness levels within the unit, which required her to take a more hands-on role and forced her to work long hours.
At the NMC’s investigating committee hearing Andrew Gibson argued that an interim suspension from the profession was necessary to protect the public.
Jackie Mitchell, a national officer with the Royal College of Midwives, represented Ms Hinshaw.
She told the panel that Ms Hinshaw has appealed her sacking, with a hearing due to take place next month.
She argued that there was significant further evidence that, perhaps, was not presented, which may have been relevant.
She said an interim suspension would have a significant effect on Ms Hinshaw financially as she is the family’s main breadwinner and was not currently working.
In their decision, the panel said there was “a real risk of repetition of behaviour which gives rise to a risk of harm to the public if (she) were allowed to practise unrestricted”.
They said: “The panel was of the view that the allegations against you represent serious shortcomings in your midwifery practice.
“The panel acknowledged that there were issues in the management structure at the time which may have left you exposed.
“Nonetheless, the panel considered the allegations suggested that your midwifery practice was not up to the standard expected of a registered midwife, particularly in relation to record-keeping and the escalation of clinical concerns.
“The panel is of the view that the shortcomings in your midwifery practice can be addressed with conditions of practice.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside confirmed that Ms Hinshaw no longer works for the health authority but declined to make further comment.