Dad charged after NSW girl ingests drugs

A NSW father has been charged after his nine-year-old girl was taken to hospital allegedly bruised and unresponsive after she ate food containing an illegal drug.

The girl was taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle on Monday, NSW Police said in a statement on Tuesday.

Doctors were told she had eaten food containing an illicit drug and may have been given non-prescribed medication.

She remains in hospital while forensic analysis determines what she consumed.

The child abuse squad arrested a 28-year-old man at a Raymond Terrace home on Monday night. Detectives will allege he assaulted the girl.

The father was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and was denied bail at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Tuesday.

He is scheduled to appear at the same court again on May 27.

Investigations are ongoing.