A CASH-STRAPPED midwife who put patients at “significant risk” by working back-to-back shifts faces being kicked out of the profession.

Barbara Blackett worked for two hospitals to pay off her debts, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

She failed to inform the NMC and both employers – the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and the County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust.

On one occasion, the single mother worked four consecutive shifts without a break, during which time she made record-keeping errors.

A conduct and competence committee found that her actions amounted to misconduct and that her fitness to practice was impaired.

Panel chairman James Crowe said: “You did not inform either employer you were employed by the other. As a result, you worked excessive hours, sometimes working excessive shifts without a break.

“In working excessive hours without appropriate breaks, your behaviour was inappropriate and put patients at risk.

“You failed over a sustained period to justify the trust which patients are entitled to have in a midwife.

“While the panel appreciates that you were trying to do both jobs in order to pay debts, you put patients at risk to increase your earnings.

“You put your needs before theirs,” he added.

Mr Crowe said that although no patients were actually hurt, “the potential for harm in these circumstances was significant”.

“You behaved dishonestly and you have admitted that you were dishonest,” he added.

Blackett was found to have made a catalogue of record keeping errors while employed at both trusts between August 2008 and June 2009.

The panel determined that not only had she been in breach of the nursing code, but that she had also breached the terms of her employment.

She was also found guilty of failing to inform her employer when her work diary went missing.

The panel found Blackett’s actions in relation to working for two trusts at the same time amounted to misconduct and that her fitness to practise was impaired. It did not find misconduct in relation to the record-keeping allegations.

The panel must now decide what sanction, if any, to impose.