Sudden and unexpected deaths of three children ‘were identified at hospital where a nurse was arrested on suspicion of poisoning’

The sudden and unexpected deaths of three children were identified at a hospital where a nurse was arrested on suspicion of poisoning, it was claimed today.

The NHS trust running Birmingham Children’s Hospital – home to Britain’s largest paediatric intensive care unit – has been running a review into cases of patients being treated there from January 2022.

Findings, which include the sudden and unexpected deaths of three children, have since been passed to police, the Times reports.

In one case in May last year, health staff are said to have raised concerns when a child’s condition rapidly deteriorated, before being pronounced dead the following day. 

A 28-year-old nurse was arrested by West Midlands Police on suspicion of administering a poison with intent to endanger life.

The NHS trust running Birmingham Children’s Hospital – home to Britain’s largest paediatric intensive care unit – has been running a review into cases of patients being treated there from January 2022

She has since been suspended by the trust, and the industry regulation, meaning she is unable to work as a nurse elsewhere.

The families of patients whose cases are being reviewed have also been told of the findings.

‌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. Sadly, the child later died and our thoughts remain with the family.’

The revelations come against the backdrop of the case of Lucy Letby, the neonatal nurse who was convicted earlier this month of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

An investigation into Britain’s most prolific child killer of modern times has since been announced, with the Prime Minister indicating over the weekend that her ‘despicable’ crimes will be probed by a judge-led inquiry.

Rishi Sunak had previously resisted pressure to give it a statutory footing but Health Secretary Steve Barclay is understood to have now asked the Ministry of Justice for a list of appropriate senior judges available to lead the inquiry.

Letby, 33, was given a whole-life sentence last Monday, meaning she will never be released from prison.