Police probe hospital tampering

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Police say they are investigating a number of lines of inquiry into how three hospital oxygen cylinders were deliberately tampered with.

Tubes on one cylinder at Sandwell Hospital, West Bromwich, were found to have been blocked, restricting the flow of oxygen to a patient.

Later checks revealed two other cylinders had been interfered with.

West Midlands Police said the items that caused the blockages were being forensically examined.

Patient unharmed

In a statement on Sunday the trust said an unidentifiable substance had been blocking the oxygen flow.

The trust said the substance could only have been added deliberately.

The tank was full and staff could hear oxygen flowing from the cylinder, but it quickly became apparent the oxygen was not getting through to the mask.

The patient was not hurt in the incident, which took place two weeks ago.

The hospital immediately checked all 500 of its portable cylinders which showed two others, which were not in use, had been disabled.

A police spokesman said the force was keeping an open mind and was investigating the incidents with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital NHS Trust.