A nurse at Birmingham children’s hospital has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after the death of an infant last Thursday.
West Midlands police said the 27-year-woman was later released while investigations continued.
She has been suspended from her role at the hospital, which is run by Birmingham women’s and children’s NHS foundation trust.
A spokesperson for West Midlands police said: “We have arrested a 27-year-old woman in connection with the death of an infant. The child sadly passed away on Thursday at hospital.
“The woman was arrested on Thursday evening at a property in the West Midlands area on suspicion of administering poison with intent to endanger life. She has been released while the investigation continues and the results of forensic tests are examined.
“The family of the child are being supported by specially trained officers.”
The age and sex of the child have not be revealed.
The NHS alerted the police last week after the child died.
In a statement it said: “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.
“The staff member involved has been suspended by the trust following the national process on the sudden unexpected death of a child.
“We are supporting the infant’s family at this distressing time and ask that privacy is respected in this process.”
Birmingham’s 31-bed paediatric intensive care unit is the largest in the country. It was rated outstanding by the regulator, the Care Quality Commission, at its last inspection in 2016.
