A newborn baby was wrongly separated from his parents for almost a year

A baby boy was taken away from his parents for almost an entire first year after it was wrongly believed they had harmed him.

The child, who is now about 12 months old, was taken into care after hospital staff concluded that he had been "shaken" and suffered a "non-accidental" head injury.

The boy, who has not been identified, was returned to his mother earlier this summer after it emerged he had not been abused.

But the parents of the child have since separated as a result of the pressure caused the allegation, a court heard.

A family court judge said an inquiry into the care the little boy received was now under way.

Details of the case emerged at a family court hearing in Brighton.

The boy was admitted to Worthing Hospital about a year ago after his parents called an ambulance saying he was "limp and floppy".

Medical evidence indicated that the little boy had been "shaken" and suffered a "non-accidental" head injury.

Social workers became involved and following an investigation the baby's parents were arrested.

But the judge said evidence was "incomplete" and the baby's condition had been "incompletely investigated".

She said neither the baby's parents, nor anyone in his family, had harmed him.

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Judge Jakens said "concerns" had been "identified" about the care offered to the baby at Worthing Hospital - and the hospital leadership team was "on notice about the concerns".

Judge Jakens said she had now given the council permission to withdraw an application for a care order by West Sussex County Council.

The judge said the baby had not been given an MRI scan - although a scan had been "clearly recognised" as being necessary.

She said: "Unfortunately for (the baby), no MRI scan was undertaken as part of the investigations at Worthing.

"This was recognised as needed, attempted, but ultimately not followed through.

"This is not a question of hindsight because it was clearly recognised at the time as being necessary."

The judge described the case as "significantly challenging" and said his mother and father had "suffered the agonies of separation from their child."

She said: "(The baby) has been well-cared for, but over half his life has been spent without the love and affection of his own parents, despite frequent contact.

"(The baby's) case demanded more thorough investigation than he received.

Concerns raised about the care offered to the baby at Worthing Hospital have been referred to a safeguarding board.

Dr Tim Taylor, lead paediatrician at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Worthing Hospital, said: "We realise this case has been very distressing for everyone involved.

"As a trust we take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously and are fully co-operating with the local safeguarding board."

(Daily Mirror)