Several medical personnel at a hospital in the central province of Hunan have been suspended for using expired medicine on children, local authorities said Wednesday.

Nurses with Wugang City People's Hospital intravenously administered expired normal saline into six children Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the city's publicity office.

After discovering the mistake, the patients were transferred to the provincial children's hospital Sunday night for observation. None displayed any adverse reactions.

The city's market and quality supervision administration, and the health inspection department have sent representatives to the hospital to inspect the hospital pharmacy.

A deputy director, a head nurse of the paediatrics department and several other nurses were suspended pending further investigation.