THE parents of a baby found on the floor of an Airedale Hospital ward with a fractured skull were due to meet hospital officials yesterday (Thursday).

A police investigation was launched after three-week-old Humara Ali, from Keighley, was found lying on the floor next to her cot on December 19.

Police believe that Humara suffered a fractured skull, broken leg and severe bruising after she was pulled, dragged or carried out of her cot by another small child.

Police from West Yorkshire's child protection unit were called in to investigate what was at first believed to be a deliberate attack.

A police spokesman said: "The injuries were potentially serious and inquiries were undertaken by specialist officers from the child protection unit. This is usual procedure in such cases.

"Having conducted an investigation, we are satisfied that the baby did not sustain these injuries through any criminal act. It appears that the injuries resulted from an unusual and unfortunate accident involving another young child who was also a patient."

Humara had been admitted to hospital on December 18 with a cold and chesty cough.

A spokesman for the hospital trust said: "Now we have the police's findings, we will be completing our own thorough investigations and we will be doing everything possible to ensure nothing like this can occur again.

"We are working very closely with the police and will be meeting them shortly. Fortunately things like this are extremely rare and we are pleased to hear that baby Hamara is recovering well."

Yesterday, her parents, Mumtaz and Noreen Ali, were due to meet Sue Franks, Airedale's director of nursing, Liz Calvert, the general manager of women's and children's health and Dr Gary Savill, a consultant paediatrician.

A risk management meeting has also been arranged for Tuesday.

Peter Putwain, chairman of Airedale Community Health Council, attributed part of the problem to "seriously low" levels of staffing.

He added: "The CHC will be asking questions about staffing levels. We are afraid that due to financial problems at the hospital there have been cut backs which could result in patients being at risk."