Nurse ‘under investigation for poisoning baby’ at hospital where three died
An NHS investigation linked to the arrest of a nurse on suspicion of poisoning a baby has reportedly found three suspicious deaths at the hospital where she worked.
The review of Birmingham Children’s Hospital was launched after colleagues allegedly raised concerns when a child deteriorated on May 18 last year.
The nurse, who is understood to be 28 or 29 years old, was arrested the following day on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life.
The baby died that same day, according to the Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which is in charge of the hospital.
She was released under investigation at some point over the following days but remained suspended from her job.
According to The Sunday Times, she remained under investigation this weekend, is still suspended from work, and has also been suspended by the regulator, meaning she cannot work as a nurse elsewhere.
Citing documents, the newspaper reports three children died suddenly and unexpectedly.
The NHS trust is said to have passed the findings to police and also notified the families of the deceased.
In a statement published by the Times, Dr Fiona Reynolds, the trust’s chief medical officer, said: ‘In May 2022, a child on the paediatric intensive care unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital deteriorated suddenly and unexpectedly.
’Due to the circumstances of the deterioration, the trust acted straight away.
’A member of staff was suspended from work and subsequently arrested at home. Sadly, the child later died and our thoughts remain with the family.”
She added: ‘The trust immediately followed the standard safeguarding protocol for the sudden unexpected death of a child, and West Midlands Police were notified the same day.
’An extensive clinical review of deaths and sudden deteriorations in children on the paediatric intensive care unit has been undertaken by clinicians at the trust.
’Their findings have in turn been reviewed by independent experts and shared with the police.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.