Baby in antibiotic overdose claim

Harrison was given intravenous antibiotics

A mother says she is waiting to discover if her baby son will be left deaf after he was allegedly administered too high a dose of antibiotics in a hospital in Manchester.

Rachel Newsome, 33, took two-week-old Harrison to Wythenshawe Hospital on the advice of a locum GP after he developed an angry rash which turned out to be baby acne.

The mother-of-two from Heald Green in Cheadle, said she spent the night of 19 December by her son's side after he was prescribed intravenous antibiotics for an infection.

She alleges that at 0815 GMT the next day a nurse administered an excessive dose to her baby.

Awaiting tests

Mrs Newsome, a dental nurse, whose husband Malcolm, 27, is a dentist, says she did not learn of the error until two hours later when she was told by the hospital manager and a consultant.

She said the consultant informed her that Harrison had accidentally been given ten times the dose of drugs needed.

The baby was then transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

But Mrs Newsome and her husband, who also have a daughter Jessica, aged eight, say they must now wait until their son is old enough to undergo brain stem tests to discover if he has developed hearing difficulties.

They have already written a letter of complaint to the hospital and say they have not ruled out legal action.

Internal investigation

Mrs Newsome said: "It is the thought that he could be deaf that upsets me more than anything.

"It has ruined Christmas for all of us.

"He was a perfect baby who just had a rash and now we don't know what the future holds for him."

In a statement a Wythenshawe Hospital spokeswoman said: "We have spoken to the family regarding the fact their baby son has allegedly been given too high a dose of a drug.

"An internal investigation has commenced to examine the full circumstances."