NHS hospitals are trialling a 15-minute blood test for life-threatening conditions in children.

An innovative 15-minute blood test which can help doctors quickly identify life-threatening infections in children is being trialled by the NHS this winter.

The hi-tech test can tell whether an infection is bacterial or viral far faster than traditional methods - helping clinicians detect serious illnesses such as sepsis or meningitis sooner.

NHS England is funding the trial across three hospitals - Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, St Mary's Hospital in London and the Great North Children's Hospital in Newcastle.

Doctors say the test could make a "vital difference" to how quickly young patients receive treatment.

Currently, lab analysis of blood samples can take several hours, delaying diagnosis and treatment.

The new test provides results in around 15 minutes, meaning doctors can act faster and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

Professor Simon Kenny, NHS England's national clinical director for children and young people, said: "Quick diagnosis is crucial in ensuring patients get the most effective treatment.

"Innovations like the 15-minute blood test speed up diagnosis and allow focused treatment."

The study, led by the University of Liverpool and funded through NHS England's Small Business Research Initiative Healthcare programme, runs until March next year.

If successful, the test could be rolled out more widely across NHS hospitals.