Police have paid an undisclosed
out-of-court settlement to a mother who was arrested on suspicion of
murder after her son died of natural causes.
Abby
Podmore, from Quinton, Birmingham, was held in police custody overnight
in February 2011 by officers investigating the death of three-year-old
Alfie.
Ms Podmore, a
dental nurse, has already received a five-figure out-of-court settlement
from Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust after it
admitted failings in medical care prior to her son's death.
Police have paid Abby Podmore an undisclosed
out-of-court settlement after she was arrested on suspicion of murder
following the death of her three-year-old son Alfie, who died of natural
causes
An inquest held in September 2011 heard the toddler died of a chest infection after being misdiagnosed by hospital staff.
In
a statement issued today by law firm Irwin Mitchell, which represented
Ms Podmore, she expressed relief that legal proceedings against the
hospital and police had been concluded.
She said: 'Alfie was adored by his
family and everyone whose lives he touched during his short time with us
and he will never be forgotten.
'I'm
just relieved the legal battles with both the NHS Trust and police are
now over as we can finally look to begin rebuilding our lives.'
An inquest held in September 2011 heard that Alfie died of a chest infection after being misdiagnosed by hospital staff
Tom Riis-Bristow, a medical law
expert at Irwin Mitchell's Birmingham office, who led the legal action,
said: 'The consequences of losing Alfie so suddenly and in such tragic
circumstances have had a long-lasting psychological effect on Abby.
'The
out-of-court settlements will be used to help fund the ongoing
psychiatric care she needs and will also provide the couple with funds
to help them move house, as their present home has so many painful
memories which they have understandably found extremely hard to deal
with.
'Following our
investigations, the hospital has assured Abby that the internal
investigation carried out after Alfie's death has led to important
lessons being learnt and a number of changes to procedures have since
been made which will hopefully mean that no other family has to suffer
the same heartbreak.'
In
a statement to Alfie's inquest, Ms Podmore described her arrest as a
'horrifying' event which had robbed her of the chance to grieve.
The
inquest heard that antibiotics may have saved Alfie, but he was instead
given antacid medication and died at his home on February 6, 2011.
West Midlands Police made the payment to Ms Podmore without admitting any wrongdoing on behalf of the force.
Chief
Inspector Garry Billing, from Birmingham Police's Child Protection
Unit, said: 'A payment has been made to Abby Podmore; she's accepted it
is a full and final settlement and without any admission from West
Midlands Police.
'Ms
Podmore was arrested following her son's death as it was deemed in the
best interest of the investigation at that stage; she's since recognised
that police were acting on information available to them at the time
and needed to fully investigate matters.
'It became apparent, however, the case should not be treated as a murder inquiry and she was quickly dismissed as a suspect.
'This is a truly tragic case and no amount of money can ever compensate for the death of a child.'
Ms Podmore had already received a five-figure
out-of-court settlement from Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS
Foundation Trust after it admitted failings in medical care prior to her
son's death
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