A MIDWIFE who drugged 15 pregnant women has been struck off and told she showed "harmful, deep-seated behaviour".

Kirsteen Stewart was found guilty of deliberately drugging mothers at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital in an apparent bid to make her work easier.

Thirteen of the women had to undergo an emergency caesarean section after Ms Stewart, from Newmachar, Aberdeen, gave them Syntocinon, which causes the muscles in the uterus to contract.

And now the nursing watchdog has removed her from the register - condemning her actions as "deliberate" and "harmful" and saying she showed no remorse and even regarded herself as the victim.

At the conclusion of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) hearing, held yesterday (Fri) in Edinburgh, Chair of the panel Anne Booth said: "The panel has concluded that striking off is the only sanction appropriate.

"15 mothers and babies were subjected to unsafe care in the hands of Ms Stewart, and there has been no remorse or apology to the service users involved.

"There has been a repeated lack of insight into the pain that was caused to the mothers, and no acceptance of her actions."