Birmingham Children’s Hospital nurse remains under investigation after infant death

A Birmingham Children’s Hospital nurse remains under investigation by West Midlands Police on suspicion of poisoning a baby.

The infant died on May 19, 2022 and the nurse was arrested on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life, officers told BirminghamWorld. Details of the continuing probe come as Birmingham Children’s Hospital has issued a statement outlining a review undertaken into the deaths and “sudden deteriorations” of children in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Dr Fiona Reynolds, Chief Medical Officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, explained that the trust has shared their findings with police. They have also spoken with families whose children’s care was included in the review.

The Times has reported that their journalists have seen documents revealing that there have been sudden unexpected deaths of three children at the trust.

West Midlands Police said: “A 28-year-old woman remains under investigation in connection with the death of an infant. The child sadly passed away on Thursday 19 May 2022 at hospital. The woman was arrested at a property in the West Midlands area on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life.

Dr Fiona Reynolds, Chief Medical Officer at Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, 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. This was widely reported at the time. Sadly, the child later died and our thoughts remain with the family.

“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.

“We have communicated with all families where the care of their child has been reviewed and have responded openly to all requests from West Midlands Police and the Coroner on this matter. At all times our priority is patient safety which is why we took decisive action without delay.” The hospital’s 31-bed paediatric intensive care unit is the largest of its kind in the UK.