Mother of tragic boy recalls arrest on suspicion of murder

Birmingham Coroner’s Court was told Abby Podmore, whose son Alfie Podmore had been misdiagnosed by hospital staff, was prevented from seeing his body until 10 days after his death.

In a statement to the inquest, Ms Podmore, 21, from Quinton, Birmingham, described her arrest as a “horrifying” event which had robbed her of the chance to grieve.

In her statement, which was read to the court by Birmingham Coroner Aidan Cotter, Ms Podmore told how her son was taken ill at his nursery on February 2.

Alfie, who was not known to social services, was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital the following day, but was discharged after staff failed to diagnose a developing infection on his lung.

The inquest heard that antibiotics may have saved Alfie, but staff, who should have ordered an X-ray which would have identified that he was suffering from pneumonia, instead gave them antacid medication and he died at his home on February 6.

Ms Podmore said a doctor at the hospital had told her that Alfie, who had a fever and shoulder pain, was suffering from a virus.

“We just thought this was a 24-hour bug and he would get better,” she said.

Relating how she tried in vain to revive Alfie when she found him on the morning of February 6, Ms Podmore added: “I knew he was not breathing so I started to give him CPR.”

An ambulance then arrived, the inquest heard, but police then asked Ms Podmore to leave the house and change out of her clothes.

Commenting on her arrest, Ms Podmore said: “I found it distressing because I wanted to be with his body. I was in a state of shock and didn’t know what was going on.”

Two riot vans and a total of 15 police officers then arrived at the address and Ms Podmore’s partner was also detained.

Watched by neighbours, the pair were then taken to separate police stations.

After Mr Cotter recorded a narrative verdict that Alfie died following a failure to diagnose his illness, it emerged that Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has now formally admitted liability for failings in his care and has offered the Podmore family a full and unreserved apology.