Dad's baby error sparks security alert

Staff say at no time did the baby leave a secure area

An absent-minded father picked up the wrong baby at a maternity hospital and walked off with it, sparking a full-scale security alert.

In the incident at Bristol's St Michael's Hospital, the father picked up the wrong baby from the nursery and took it to his partner's room.

She realised instantly that the child was not hers and alerted staff.

But by that time the infant's mother had realised her child was missing and the baby abduction procedure was initiated, after she alerted staff.

At no time did the baby leave a secure area.

Elinor Adams

Spokeswoman Elinor Adams of the United Bristol Healthcare Trust, which runs the hospital, said a full investigation would be carried out.

She said: "Hospital staff and the emergency services responded appropriately and rapidly.

"At no time did the baby leave a secure area.

"The events, treated as a serious clinical incident, will be fully investigated.

"Although the procedure was shown to work well, security measures will be reviewed."

Ms Adams added that the baby abduction procedure was regularly tested.

A test had been carried out with police help less than a month before last Saturday's incident, she said.

Under security procedures, police and staff would have been notified that a baby was missing, the hospital exits would have been sealed and a search mounted, she said.