Disease tests for 'injured' baby

Hospital staff are being questioned by police

A three-month-old baby who suffered broken bones while at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital is being tested for rare bone syndromes.

A police inquiry began when the boy from Clacton, Essex, was found to have fractures to his leg, ankles and feet.

Police said medical equipment may have been "tampered" with and have placed the child under guard.

But the hospital said if his bones were "unusually weak", normal handling could have caused the fractures.

In a statement, the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust said it was unlikely the baby had a "classic" bone disease, but other rare illnesses were being considered.

The trust took these fractures seriously and involved the police Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust

The statement said: "If the bones are unusually weak, which could be the result of several causes, then it would be possible for them to be broken through normal careful handling of the child.

"Once discovered, the Trust took these fractures seriously and involved the police."

The statement added that the significance of "tampered with" medical equipment "remains unclear" and said further medical tests would take several weeks.

A Met police spokesman said: "Police were contacted by medical staff at Great Ormond Street Hospital in connection with medical equipment used to care for the child which had possibly been tampered with."

An open mind was being kept about how the injuries were caused "as it is possible there is a medical explanation", he added.

Officers have been interviewing hospital staff.

No arrests have been made.