Hospital poison inquiry: 50 more deaths being probed

Hospital poison inquiry: 50 more deaths being probed

by Paul Byrne, Daily Mirror 23/07/2011

NURSE Rebecca Leighton is due to appear in court today after being charged over the Stepping Hill Hospital deaths.

She was charged last night with six offences in connection with the deaths of five patients at the hospital in Stockport.

Three charges are of criminal damage intending to endanger life and three are of criminal damage being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

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Leighton, 27, who is also charged with stealing medicine, is due to appear at Manchester magistrates' court. Nazir Afzal, chief crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service North West, said it had decided there was sufficient evidence to charge Leighton with the seven offences.

He added: "These are serious charges that relate to allegations that Rebecca Leighton tampered with medical products, saline ampoules and saline bags in Stepping Hill Hospital and by doing so endangered the lives of patients."

The maximum sentence for criminal damage intending to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life would be endangered is life in jail.

Last night Chris Burke, the chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are aware that police have charged the 27-year-old female suspect. All of the staff here are shocked and appalled by what has happened."

Leighton was arrested on Wednesday at the flat she shares with her boyfriend a mile from Stepping Hill.

Detectives had until 9pm last night to question her before having to apply for a further extension.

Police were called after 36 containers of saline solution at the hospital were allegedly contaminated with insulin.

The inquiry has so far focused on five deaths and the case of a 41-year-old male patient who is seriously ill.

The name of the possible fifth victim was released by police last night. Vera Pearson, 84, of Cheadle, Gtr Manchester, died at Stepping Hill on July 14. Police were already investigating the cases of Tracey Arden, 44, George Keep, 84, and Arnold Lancaster, 71.

Mrs Arden died on July 7, Mr Lancaster on July 11 and Mr Keep on July 14.

Postmortem results have been inconclusive but on Thursday the inquiry was extended to include the deaths of Derek Weaver, 83, who died that day, and Ms Pearson.

It is understood the contaminated saline containers were kept in a storeroom serving wards A1 and A3. Leighton's friends insist she is innocent.

South Manchester coroner John Pollard will review all deaths at the hospital since July 7. All deaths in the coming days at Stepping Hill are also likely to be referred to him.

The alarm was raised last week when a nurse reported a high number of patients on her ward with "unexplained" low blood sugar.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/07/23/hospital-poison-inquiry-50-more-deaths-being-probed-115875-23290201/#ixzz1SswBtu2J 
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