Stafford Hospital rocked by twins' death

Troubled Stafford Hospital was today rocked by another scandal after it was revealed two premature twin baby boys died following a suspected blunder by medics.

An investigation has been launched into the deaths of the two babies, who may have been given an overdose of drugs.

The babies were today named as Alfie Shaun and Harry Stuart McQuillan.

One member of staff has been suspended following the deaths of the boys who died on November 1, just a week before a public inquiry started into poor levels of care at the hospital.

Staffordshire Police have been brought in examine the circumstances of the death but will not launch an official investigation.

Police spokesman Peter Bate said today that the babies, born at 27 weeks, died because they were premature rather than as a direct result of poor treatment.

But the hospital today launched a probe after it admitted "wrong rate of infusion" of drugs may have been administered to the twins.

Chief executive Antony Sumara said today: "We are all absolutely devastated.

"We have commissioned a full external investigation into the events while the twins were at our hospital. This is under way and is being led by an independent paediatric doctor.

"At present we have suspended one member of staff."

The babies, from Stafford, were rushed to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, where doctors were unable to save them.

The deaths will be subject to a Serious Untoward Incident report which will be presented to the hospital board. South Staffordshire Coroner Andrew Haigh has opened an inquest.

The deaths will raise further questions about the standards of care at the hospital, which is the subject of a public inquiry into its standards of care.