A family whose toddler was reportedly bitten by bed bugs at a Birmingham hotel has been moved to alternative accommodation by the city council. The young couple, aged 17 and 18, had been placed at the Strathallen Hotel on Hagley Road since April 15. They complained of bite marks on their one-year-old child, who was described as 'screaming and crying every night.'
Medical Confirmation and Council Response
A letter from their GP, seen by BirminghamLive, stated that the marks 'appear to be bed bug bites seen on legs and back' and advised the family to return if an infection develops. Following a BirminghamLive report, Birmingham City Council expressed regret over the incident. A spokesperson said: 'We are sorry to hear about [the tenant's] recent experience and the impact it's having on her family: we expect the highest standards from our temporary accommodation providers.'
Investigation and Relocation
The council confirmed that officers investigated the case and moved the family to a self-contained unit on May 5. Pest control visited the hotel but found no evidence of bed bug activity. 'The council is doing all it can to build new, warm, safe and sustainable homes to reduce the need for temporary accommodation,' the spokesperson added. 'However, the scale of the national housing crisis means the current rate of house building is not keeping up with demand – which severely restricts the options we can offer to people in need.'
Family's Ordeal
Initially, after complaining about bed bugs, the family was moved to another room within the hotel. The mother described their experience as 'a massive safeguarding concern.' She said: 'We are basically stuck in the room with bed bugs. At night, even in the day, but especially at night, our toddler is just screaming for three hours on end. He won't go to sleep, he is just scratching. He's not properly drinking his milk or juice. He's just screaming and crying and scratching. He's got cuts from where he's been scratching his skin open.'
The family is no longer staying at the Strathallen Hotel. The couple, who were living independently for the first time, said they discovered the bites shortly after moving in. BirminghamLive continues to seek further information from affected individuals.
