MIDWIVES raised the alarm after fearing a woman acting suspiciously in the corridor was a potential baby snatcher, a Leighton Hospital boss has confirmed.

Police received reports of a baby being snatched from Leighton Hospital maternity ward at around 2.45pm on Wednesday, June 1.

A precautionary police road block was in place outside the hospital for a short period.

It was later confirmed the reports were a false alarm and all babies were accounted for after checks were made in all wards.

A spokesman for Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT), which manages Leighton Hospital, said the alarm was raised after two midwives noticed a woman with a baby acting suspiciously on a hospital corridor.

As a precautionary measure, people were prevented from entering and leaving the site while staff, along with Cheshire Police, looked into the concern.

Tracy Bullock, chief executive of the Trust, said: “Our members of staff acted appropriately and professionally and put patient safety first.

“Although it was a false alarm, the experience shows that we have a safety culture and one of staff feeling willing and able to raise any concerns.

“It also showed that we have successful processes in place in the event of an emergency.”

Cheshire Police confirmed the incident was a false alarm, which was made with ‘good intent’.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: “Officers attended the scene and following enquiries it was established that all babies at the hospital were accounted for.

“Following investigations it has now been confirmed that this was a false alarm which was made with good intent.”

The trust said the hospital is ‘hospital is open for business as usual’ and reassured patients there are a number of safeguards in place.

These include CCTV and secure entry points to every maternity area, which can only be controlled by members of staff from the department.