Nasty midwife Grace Mutonono has been struck off for reducing a young mother to tears just hours after she gave birth.

The unnamed patient later discharged herself from Southend Hospital rather than suffer any more abuse at Mutonono's hands.

Grace Mutonono, 48, from Westcliff, faced seven misconduct charges in relation to her work at the hospital between September 1999 and March 2000.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council's Professional Conduct Committee heard a first-time mother was so terrified of Miss Mutonono, she discharged herself against doctor orders and made a complaint.

When the mother said she was exhausted and put her baby in the nursery, Miss Mutonono allegedly snapped: "Being tired is no excuse. You are a mother now and should look after your own children."

Miss Mutonono could not find the baby's nappies and the mother apologised saying her partner must have taken them by mistake. The midwife then allegedly said: "This is not good enough. What am I supposed to do now. I suppose I'll have to find something, won't I?"

Helen Kitchen, for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said the patient was shocked and upset by the way Miss Mutonono spoke to her.

Miss Kitchen also told the hearing how Miss Mutonono fell out with her one of her colleagues.

Miss Mutonono called colleague Merlina Pratt to the antenatal ward to help out on June 2, 1999. The ward was not busy and by 11.30pm Miss Pratt asked to go home. Miss Mutonono said she had

only been on the ward for two hours and did not want her to leave.

The committee found five of the charges against Mutonono amounted to misconduct.

In a letter to the committee Mutonono said: "I am truly sorry for everything that happened."

Published Wednesday April 14, 2004

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