A FORMER Basildon Hospital nurse accused of a string of medical blunders including jeopardising a spine operation on a child has admitted seven of the charges.

Last week the Echo revealed Titilola Orefuwa, a nurse on the paediatric unit, was facing a Nursing and Midwifery misconduct tribunal in connection with a series of alleged blunders in the department between 2007 and 2010, including accessing Facebook while she should have been in charge of the care of another critically ill child.

At the hearing in central London, which began yesterday, Mrs Orefuwa admitted leaving an operating theatre in March 2007 while a sensitive operation called a lumbar puncture was carried out by a student colleague who inserted a needle into the child’s spine.

Presenting the case for the NMC, Rebecca Wood said: "The registrant left the room as the needle was going into the spine.

"As there was no-one to catch the specimen the student nurse had to wait until the registrant was in the room and had to repeat the procedure, causing unnecessary stress and pain to the child."

However, the charge of accessing Facebook on the ward in January 2010 was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Two other charges were also dropped.

She faces being struck off if her fitness to practise is found to be impaired.

The hearing continues.