A Bristol paramedic has been cautioned after admitting inhaling pain-relieving gas while on duty.

At a disciplinary hearing before the Health Professions Council (HPC) in London, Michelle Flay admitted that she had inhaled the gas at Nailsea Station in April 2007.

Miss Flay is still working for Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) in the Bristol area after internal investigations were also carried out.

She was seen by a colleague inhaling Entonox in the back of an ambulance at about 2am on April 16, 2007.

Entonox is a medical gas most commonly used for pain control during labour and to control trauma-related pain, and is used by paramedics and in emergency departments.

As well as providing analgesia, Entonox can produce feelings of euphoria and relaxation.

The panel heard that Miss Flay told her colleague Kay Goodwin that she was checking the vehicle but was seen 10 to 15 minutes later inhaling the gas again.

The panel decided that although they were satisfied that there had been a discussion between the two women about Miss Flay reporting herself unfit for duty, they were not satisfied that Miss Goodwin had "advised" her to do so.

Miss Flay, represented by Ray Carrick from the public service trade union Unison, admitted that she did not report herself unfit for duty after the incident.

The panel decided to impose a Caution Order for a year - which means the word "caution" will appear against Miss Flay's name on the medical register for one year.

She has the right to an appeal within the next 28 days. If she does not appeal the word "caution" will also appear next to her name on the HPC website, which is accessible by the public.

In a report on their decision, the HPC panel, made up of Ray Pattison, Ian Crookall and Rodney Moore, said: "The panel accepts Mr Carrick's submissions that there is a low risk of reoccurrence, that Miss Flay was open and honest when the misconduct was detected and that it was an isolated incident.

"The panel also accept as genuine the assurance given by Miss Flay that there will be no reoccurrence of this misconduct and her unreserved apology for it."

They added: "The panel is satisfied that this is a proportionate sanction in the circumstances and one that adequately protects the public."

A spokesman for GWAS said: "This relates to an incident back in April 2007. We takes these matters very seriously. We are satisfied that we dealt with the matter internally at the time and we are satisfied that it has now been dealt with by the HPC."

They confirmed that Miss Flay was still working for GWAS, with no restrictions on the type of work she can do.