A nurse who failed to raise the alarm when a four-week-old baby stopped breathing and turned blue has been suspended for at least 18 months.

Jean Kingshott was on duty when the worried parents rushed their daughter to A&E at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings.

But Kingshott failed to take proper observations or even take the infant out of her carry-seat, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) heard.

Kingshott was later dismissed and she did not attend the interim hearing this week.

The hearing was told that the baby had been unwell and was not feeding properly when her parents took her to the hospital on June 9 last year.

Hannah Capgras, for the NMC, told the hearing: "A student nurse was also present and observed the baby appeared to be a blue or grey colour."

She added: "A history was taken from the mother but no observations were taken. The baby was not even transferred from the carry seat."

Kingshott arranged for the baby to be sent to the children's ambulatory care unit, but did not tell staff there about the child's condition, the panel heard.

Ms Capgras said Kingshott sent the family there with the student nurse, when a qualified nurse should have accompanied them.

When they arrived, staff immediately saw the baby's colour and knew she was extremely ill.

Ms Capgras said: "The baby had very poor respiratory effort with a very faint heartbeat. She was subsequently treated until her condition was stable."

The hearing was told Kingshott had only just finished an extra supervision period after an allegation that she had misappropriated drugs.

Ms Capgras said: "This is a very serious allegation which shows that the registrant failed to demonstrate qualities which are essential to a nurse and this could have very serious consequences if repeated in the future."

Chairwoman of the panel Professor Mary Hanratty agreed that Kingshott should be suspended for 18 months while the allegations are investigated.

She said: "Due to the seriousness of the allegations and risk of repeating of the circumstances, the panel has decided an interim suspension order is necessary for the protection of the public."