CCTV used by Alder Hey amid fears of sabotage.

A CLOSED-CIRCUIT TV camera was installed at Liverpool's Alder Hey hospital amid fears anaesthetic equipment was being sabotaged.

Hospital bosses set up the secret equipment two years ago, after reports that surgical stock had been damaged.

Chief executive Louise Shepherd said the camera was deactivated when the incidents stopped, but she also revealed the investigation was reopened in January this year after more reports of damage - and said a meeting would be held with police this week.

The camera was discovered last week by general staff after a cupboard was moved. A meeting was then called to inform workers.

It is understood the camera was only trained on surgical equipment.

Ms Shepherd said: "We do what we do because we are hyper-vigilant and nothing comes before the safety and security of our children."

She said the latest incidents were reported late last year and at the end of January, and that both police and NHS security had been informed.

Staff members complained of "snooping" by hospital bosses, but union representatives from the Royal College of Nurses said security was paramount.

RCN Alder Hey steward Mike Travis said: "This is an issue of patient safety and, because of that, I cannot condemn the hospital for using CCTV.

"People have been tampering with - or there are suspicions that people have been tampering with - equipment which needs to be working properly, or children's lives would be at risk."

Merseyside Police said they were first contacted in May, 2006, and had been in touch with Alder Hey about the recent reports of damaged equipment.