Third oxygen pipe case probed

Tony Clowes died when his oxygen tube became blocked

Police investigating two cases of hospital patients whose oxygen pipes became mysteriously blocked are examining a third incident.

It happened in April at Watford General Hospital in Hertfordshire, when a woman was under anaesthetic for a routine operation.

The 57-year-old woman made a full recovery.

One of the other two cases being investigated, both of which took place in Essex, resulted in the death of a nine-year-old boy.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said the force had learned of the Hertfordshire incident within the last few days.

DS Win Bernard is leading the Essex inquiry

"Hertfordshire Police had already been investigating it as a one-off incident after it had been reported to them," she said.

"Officers from Hertfordshire came to Essex today and met Detective Superintendent Win Bernard who is leading the Essex investigation.

"As a result it has been decided that there is sufficient information to now include it within the ongoing Essex inquiry."

Hertfordshire officers will be assisting with the investigation.

Pipe reused

On Wednesday, police launched an investigation into the two Essex cases.

Youngster Tony Clowes, from Dagenham, died on 18 July in the pre-operation room after being admitted to Broomfield Hospital to have the top of his finger sewn back on following a bike accident.

The pipe supplying him with oxygen, which had a blockage, had been reused contrary to manufacturers' guidelines, it has emerged.

Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, which runs Broomfield Hospital, has rejected allegations that staff were told to reuse the oxygen pipe to cut costs.

Police constable Jeremy Roberts, 42, was also under anaesthetic, at Basildon Hospital on 2 August, when a pipe feeding him oxygen became blocked.

Health chiefs say he suffered no ill effects and his operation was able to proceed successfully.