A little girl ended up in A&E when she collapsed after sniffing hospital hand gel.

Five-year-old Millie Gore used the sanitiser when she went to visit her father in hospital.

But after she smelled a small amount of the gel, she fell to the floor with seizure-like symptoms.

Mother Shari Cairns, of New Road, Chatham, said her daughter started shaking and was unable to get up.

She said: "I didn't know what had happened. It looked like she was having a seizure, so I ran out shouting that my daughter had just collapsed. It was absolutely terrifying and very emotional. I just felt helpless."

The family was visiting The Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury. Millie (pictured right) was taken to the A&E department, where she was checked by a nurse and a senior doctor.

Ms Cairns said: "We spoke to a doctor who said there was ethanol in the gel, which was once used to knock patients out. We had no idea it could be dangerous.

"We were just sitting around the bed when Millie asked what the bottle was and she put some on her hands and then she collapsed.

"She's fine now, but it shook her up and she started crying and feeling sick as soon as she came round."

Ms Cairns is now warning other parents to take care when visiting hospitals.

She added: "I don't want any mother to be in that situation. It could be worse next time."

Millie Gore fell ill at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury

A Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman issued advice against smelling the sanitiser.

She said: "We would advise anyone visiting our hospitals not to closely inhale or taste the hand sanitiser gel available but to use it on clean hands as per the instructions displayed by the dispensers.

"We are not aware of any other similar incidents having been reported at Maidstone or Tunbridge Wells hospitals in the past."

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