TWO midwives have been cleared of contributing to the death of a newborn baby boy at a scandal hit maternity unit - but will continue to face charges alleging their care 'caused him to lose a significant chance of survival'.

Lindsey Biggs and Holly Parkinson allegedly failed to notice that Joshua Titcombe was seriously unwell after his birth at Barrow's Furness General in October 2008.

The little boy died from a lung haemorrhage nine days later when an infection he was carrying was left untreated.

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Lawyers for the two women claimed there was no case to answer on all charges against them at a disciplinary hearing in London yesterday.

But the Nursing and Midwifery Council ruled the case should continue - though it has rejected the claim that the midwives' actions directly contributed to Joshua's death. 

The nurses will continue to face an allegation that the actions of the pair instead 'caused him to lose a significant chance of survival.' 

The case has now been adjourned for more than a month as the women prepare to give evidence.  

At least 11 babies died needlessly at Barrow's maternity unit, which was slammed in the controversial Morecambe Bay Investigation Report as 'seriously dysfunctional'. 

Joshua, the son of Dalton couple James and Hoa Titcombe, developed pneumococcal septicaemia after a treatable infection that had been passed to him from his mum Hoa and was missed by midwives following the birth. 

Biggs and Parkinson failed to act on advice given to them by a paediatrician to carry out three hourly observations and did not refer the situation when his temperature dropped. 

The room Joshua and his mother were left in was described as 'cold'. 

Observation charts for Joshua, referred to as Baby A, and his care plan were lost by the hospital, the hearing was told. 

The NMC panel ruled that after finding there was a case to answer, more time was needed for the midwives to give evidence on the facts. 

NMC panel chair Stuart Gray, who adjourned the hearing until June 27, said: 'It would not be fair to start evidence today. 

'There may be time to hear some of the evidence but it would be entirely inappropriate to take the risk that it would not be completed. 

'It would best be managed by adjourning.' 

The Morecambe Bay Investigation Report concluded 11 babies and one mother died needlessly at FGH between 2004 and 2013. 

It found clinical skills within the maternity unit were 'sub-standard'.

Earlier this year two fellow FGH midwives, Greta Dixon and Catherine McCullough, were cleared of not referring Mrs Titcombe to a doctor when she allegedly told them she was feeling unwell in the days running up to Joshua's birth. 

Biggs is charged with failing to ensure observations were carried out over three hours, not escalating Joshua's low temperature and not keeping adequate records of care for Joshua or Hoa Titcombe. 

She denies all charges. 

Parkinson is charged with not documenting a paediatrician's advice that Joshua be checked every three hours, not escalating his low temperature and not keeping adequate record of the care given to Joshua. 

She admits to not documenting the three hourly observations but denies all other charges.