Starship alarm as drug mum takes baby

A security inquiry was launched last night after a meth-addicted mum walked out of Starship children's hospital with her newborn baby.

The mother, a patient at Auckland Hospital's mental health unit Te Whetu Tawera, walked out of the hospital just 90 minutes after giving birth as her child was in the grip of P withdrawal.

Staff at Starship asked police to locate the mother and child because of concerns for the baby.

They were found around 5.30pm about an hour after leaving the hospital at the mother's home in South Auckland. A hospital spokesman confirmed there had been an incident and that a security review would take place.

"It is a serious matter and there will be an investigation.

"Auckland District Health Board is very concerned at what has happened."