A WOMAN has been struck off the nursing register after a panel heard that children were put at risk because she was not properly qualified.

Kathryn Ritchie worked at the Bank Street Clinic, in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, and Clydebank Health Centre for more than four years without a nursing qualification.

Health visitors raised the alarm, telling bosses they had "serious concerns" about her ability to perform child immunisations safely.

When Mrs Ritchie, 54, a registered midwife, was approached about her skills she went off sick for eight months.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it had taken steps to ensure the mistake "does not occur again" after Mrs Ritchie was struck off the register after admitting the charges.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council said it was "fortuitous" that no harm had come to any children under her care.

Mrs Ritchie, 54, fraudulently enrolled on a postgraduate course in public health nursing at the University of the West of Scotland where there is a requirement to hold a nursing qualification.

She also falsely claimed to have completed 450 hours' practice as a midwife in order to retain her registration. She resigned from her post on January 23, 2012.

Following a referral to the NMC on February 26, 2012, it was discovered Mrs Ritchie has never been registered as a nurse, only as a midwife.

Mrs Ritchie worked at the Bank Street Clinic from ­October 2007 before being transferred to Clydebank Health Centre in early 2010.

She was later moved to an occupational health post but her work continued to fall "below the acceptable standard expected of a nurse".

NMC hearing papers state: "Mrs Ritchie had undertaken the duties of a registered nurse when she was not qualified to do so, and when she knew this to be the case.

A statement from NHSGG regarding Mrs Ritchie, said: "Since this case occurred, we have taken steps to ensure that learnings have been taken forward to ensure this type of situation does not occur again."