AN URGENT probe is underway at Basildon Hospital paediatric department after two separate drugs blunders including one being linked to the death of a ten-year-old girl.

The girl died last month after being transferred to St Mary’s Hospital in London, and it is suspected she received incorrect or out of date medicine at Basildon.

The second incident under investigation, also in October, involves a baby girl being given a wrong dose of medication. 

A spokeswoman said: “Following two recent incidents, where the care we delivered to children did not meet standards, we are working with the Care Quality Commission to strengthen our paediatric services. “

Health watchdog the Care Quality Commission carried out an unannounced inspection of the hospital in the wake of the blunders. A spokesman said: “CQC is aware of the death of a 10-year-old child following treatment at Basildon Hospital. The trust informed CQC about the death and of the action it had taken as a result. "We are monitoring the trust very closely and carried out an unannounced inspection at the trust on Saturday, 3 November. A report of our inspectors' full findings will be published in due course."

More in tomorrow's Echo.