Child death hospital criticised

Kyle Keane died after being shaken by his stepfather

A Black Country hospital has been criticised in a child protection report after a toddler died at the hands of his abusive stepfather.

The Safeguarding Children Board said staff at Walsall Manor Hospital reacted inadequately when nurses found bruises on 16-month-old Kyle Keen in June 2006.

Neither the police or children's services were contacted and a paediatrician allowed him to go home.

The hospital said it had improved child protection since the incident.

Kyle died days after being sent home after he was shaken by his stepfather Tyrone Matthews.

Staff 'deeply saddened'

Matthews, of Hatherton Street, Walsall, was jailed for six-and-a-half years after admitting manslaughter in 2007.

Kyle's mother Kerry Mackintosh received a suspended six-month sentence after admitting cruelty by failing to protect her son.

Matthews was jailed in 2007 after admitting manslaughter

The report said the hospital had failed to follow child protection procedures and staff had decided not to report Kyle's injuries on the advice of the paediatrician.

It said its guidelines to staff were not clear and that child protection training had not been formally monitored.

The hospital's records also did not accurately describe Kyle's injuries or the explanations given by his parents.

It said staff should be reminded of their responsibilities, given additional training and told to improve their record taking.

It also called for child protection policies to be reviewed at the hospital.

Mike Browne, medical director of Walsall Manor Hospital, said the staff involved had been "deeply saddened by his tragic death".

He said it had met the board's recommendations, appointed two new child protection staff and increased the number of its paediatricians.

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