Birmingham Children’s Hospital asked police to get involved following the death of an infant in its care
A health worker has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life after an infant died at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The hospital asked West Midlands Police to investigate after the child died while being cared for at its Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.
The 27-year-old worker was arrested on Thursday and has been suspended.
Police said the woman had been released while investigations continued and forensic tests were being examined.
A spokesperson for Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said it was “supporting the infant’s family at this distressing time and ask that privacy is respected during this process”.
“Following the death of an infant at our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, we have asked West Midlands Police to examine what has happened, in line with our own safeguarding policy,” it added.
“The staff member involved has been suspended by the Trust following the national process on the sudden unexpected death of a child.”
Birmingham Children’s Hospital is a leading centre for specialist paediatric care and treats patients up to the age of 16. With 31-beds, it is the largest in the country and was rated outstanding by the regulator, the Care Quality Commission, at its last inspection in 2016.
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