Hospital worker's F-word outburst in the labour ward

Surgery assistant Nigel Baglin allegedly shouted at Samantha Shepherd while a doctor was telling her she needed a Caesarean section because her baby's life was at risk.

The hearing of the Health Professionals Committee was told that Baglin shouted "f***ing hell, why can't women in this hospital give birth naturally?"

Baglin, an agency practitioner who was providing anaesthetist support at Newham University Hospital, stormed into the room and crashed his hospital trolley into a door during the outburst.

Mrs Shepherd, a mother-of-three, said: "I was really nervous, labour was not going along as hoped.

"The doctor was explaining that I needed to have a second epidural when [Baglin] entered the room and banged the door with his trolley." She added: "He stormed out and I felt worthless."

Baglin told the committee: "It was an off-the-cuff comment. I admit it was inappropriate but I was being rushed around."

After the outburst in February last year, the hospital reported Baglin to his agency, saying it would refuse his services in future. A witness who was present during the outburst said his comments were directed straight at Mrs Shepherd.

The witness said: "He was so angry you could see the veins in his neck. He wanted to be an exhibitionist and he wanted it to be heard."

A panel on the committee will rule whether Baglin's fitness to practise is impaired.