Birmingham Children's Hospital worker held over 'poisoning' of child

A health worker has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life after a child died at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

The 27-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday and has been suspended from her role at the hospital.

The child was being treated in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, a spokesperson for the hospital said.

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 children and young people up to the age of 16.