A nurse has been arrested on suspicion of poisoning a baby with the police launching an investigation into a rise in child deaths.
It comes after a child was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit at Birmingham Children’s Hospital before dying “suddenly and unexpectedly”.
Staff alerted the authorities to the case when the child rapidly deteriorated and died on May 18, 2022, a day after being admitted.
The nurse was suspended and arrested her at her home on suspicion of administering a 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 [straightaway]. 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.”
Dr Reynolds added that the trust had followed the standard safeguarding protocol and the police were notified on the day of the death.
The nurse has not only been suspended from work but also by the regulator, meaning she cannot work as a nurse anywhere else.
A “surge” in child deaths and sudden collapses in the neonatal and paediatric wards from January last year are now being examined.
An investigation into the rise in deaths has been carried out by the NHS trust with all information handed over to West Midlands Police.
Three children died suddenly at the hospital, according to The Sunday Times.
The families have been made aware of the investigation’s findings.
Dr Reynolds said: “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.
“At all times our priority is patient safety, which is why we took decisive action without delay.”
A West Midlands Police spokesman said the nurse remains under investigation in connection with the death of the baby, adding: “The woman was arrested at a property in the West Midlands area on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life.”
News of the arrest comes as former nurse Lucy Letby was sentenced to a whole life order after murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others.
Evil Letby, 33, killed infants on the neo-natal intensive care unit at Countess of Chester Hospital, including by injecting insulin and air into them.
A further investigation into Letby by medical experts has reportedly found evidence of “malevolent acts” against other babies.
Detectives from Cheshire Police are looking into “some events” at Liverpool Women’s Hospital where Letby worked in 2012 and 2015.
