BOSSES at a regulatory body have ordered an independent review into the way their own organisation handled the case of a suspended midwife linked to the deaths of two babies.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council - which decides whether nurses and midwives are fit to practise in the UK - has called in an external expert to assess decisions made in relation to sacked Furness General Hospital employee, Lindsey Biggs.

Biggs was allowed to continue to work as a midwife at the scandal-hit Barrow maternity unit without any restrictions while she was under investigation over the death of Joshua Titcombe seven years ago.

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Biggs was found to have caused the Dalton newborn to lose a significant chance of survival after she failed to properly monitor him, complete records or refer him to a doctor for a low temperature - a sign of infection in babies.

The infant later died, aged nine days.

Last month Ms Biggs was sacked by bosses at the trust that runs FGH, in Dalton Lane, following the death in March of another baby in her care after she was alleged to have once again failed to properly monitor the mother, keep adequate records or call a doctor.

Her employment was terminated after an internal hospital disciplinary hearing concluded her conduct had fallen substantially below acceptable standards.

The NMC subsequently suspended the midwife for 18 months in a bid to "protect the public" and to prevent a similar incident from unfolding while a new investigation gets under way.

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A spokesman for the NMC said: "In the case of midwife Lindsey Biggs, the NMC is confident that we have taken the correct actions.

"We carried out a series of risk assessments which included maintaining regular contact with her employer. At no point during the process did the employer raise any concerns about her current practice.

"Having now received a new complaint in relation to Lindsey Biggs, we feel that it is right that we review the actions that we have taken to date.

"As an organisation that is committed to continuous improvement we have asked an external adviser to help us undertake this review."

Ms Biggs was among a group of midwives criticised by the Morecambe Bay Investigation last year which concluded 11 babies and one mother had died as a direct result of poor care at the unit between 2004 and 2013 - with more suffering injuries from botched deliveries.

Ms Biggs was said to have been among a group of midwives heavily criticised within the document for championing natural childbirth "at any cost" and for ganging together under the self-imposed moniker; "The Musketeers" with a "one for all" approach to outside criticism and complaints.

Sue Smith, executive chief nurse at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "If any member of staff is found to be practising below the standard we expect, there are a number of things that we might do, including retraining, spending time in another unit, or referral to their professional body, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council."