Midwife told mother: ‘If you don’t push, I’m going to have to cut you’

Midwife told mother: ‘If you don’t push, I’m going to have to cut you’ Adenike Simiat Balogun-Sadiq was banned from the profession by a Nursing and Midwifery Council panel following a hearing on Monday - Bookmark Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A midwife who told a mother, "If you don’t push, I’m going to have to cut you", has been struck off. Adenike Simiat Balogun-Sadiq was removed from the profession following a decision by a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) panel on Monday. She was already serving a suspension order that had been handed down on April 7 2025 after a finding of misconduct regarding an incident at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley, south-east London, on July 17 and 18 2019. The panel ruled that the midwife failed to treat the patient – referred to as Mother A – "with kindness, respect and compassion". When Mother A "stated she felt she couldn’t push any more", Mrs Balogun-Sadiq answered by saying: "If you don’t push, I’m going to have to cut you". Mrs Balogun-Sadiq was also found to have said to Mother A: "What’s wrong with you? Are you emotional?" after she cried out in pain. According to the NMC decision, it was further established that she "failed to ensure that Mother A had adequate pain relief in place before commencing and/or during the suturing process". Mrs Balogun-Sadiq had originally been suspended for six months by a Fitness to Practise Committee panel in April 2025. The decision was reviewed on September 17 2025 and the suspension was confirmed for a further six months, and again on March 23 2026. The second reviewing panel had considered that a period of suspension would give Mrs Balogun-Sadiq “the opportunity to provide reflections on her misconduct and would allow her to undertake further relevant training”. It had also found the misconduct to be “an isolated incident in what had hitherto been 22 years of a previously unblemished career”. Mrs Balogun-Sadiq was provided instructions on how to remediate the concerns while she was suspended, including by submitting a “reflective piece to demonstrate that she has gained insight into her failures” and how it will inform her practice in the future. But, according to Monday’s decision, Mrs Balogun-Sadiq continuously failed to engage with the regulator after the first order was made. She did not attend the virtual hearing on Monday, despite having been sent notice. The panel found there was a risk Mrs Balogun-Sadiq would repeat the misconduct behaviour and, in her absence, decided to impose a striking-off order which will come into effect on November 6 2026. The decision read: “In light of Mrs Balogun-Sadiq’s failure to demonstrate improved insight or remediation of the failings found in her practice, the panel determined that there remains a real risk of repetition of the misconduct found proved. “Mrs Balogun-Sadiq’s lack of engagement with the NMC and her failure to address the identified concerns constituted a significant departure from the standards expected of a registered nurse, the misconduct identified in this case has and would continue to put patients at risk of harm and is therefore fundamentally incompatible with her remaining on the register.” Mrs Balogun-Sadiq had also admitted to providing false information to the NMC when she completed paperwork in November 2022 stating that she had retired on August 31 2022. She was in fact continuing to undertake midwifery shifts at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London, according to the NMC.