'Confusion' has been blamed for a suspended nurse being prevented from visiting his sick baby son and mother at the hospital where he used to work - despite fearing he was seriously ill.

Barry Fiddes's five-month-old son Dylan was rushed to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital with symptoms he believed could have been potentially fatal meningitis. Mr Fiddes's 43-year-old mum Patricia was also admitted to the hospital the same day, after collapsing at home.

But the 25-year-old was shocked to find he was not allowed on to their wards because of his suspension.

He needed permission from hospital bosses, but claims no-one could give him the go-ahead until after Dylan was sent home the next day. In the meantime, he had to wait frantically at home for news from his now ex-girlfriend, Eva Dewey, who could visit Dylan.

Mr Fiddes said: "We were worried as Dylan was showing signs of being really quite poorly but no-one would give me permission to see him.

"I was frantic. It was a disgusting way to treat me and my family."

A spokesman for the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, which manages the hospital, said if a person was subject to disciplinary action and had been suspended they would not normally be allowed back on the premises without perm- ission.

She said in this case a "confusion" had arisen, which had been cleared up and Mr Fiddes was given permission to visit his relatives and received an apology.

Mr Fiddes, of Colemans Hill, Headington, was suspended from his job as a nurse auxiliary on an acute medical ward in September after being accused of stealing £10 from a patient.

He was on suspension at the time of Dylan's illness but was sacked last week after a hearing. He denies the accusations and plans to appeal on the grounds of unfair dismissal.

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