Nurse Held On Hospital Sabotage Deaths Named

A nurse held on suspicion of murdering patients at a hospital in Stockport has been named as Rebecca Leighton.

The 26-year-old was arrested at her home in Stockport, Manchester, at 6am.

Crime scene investigators are at the scene of the suspect's flat about a mile from Stepping Hill Hospital where saline containers had been contaminated with insulin.

It comes amid intense police activity at the hospital where staff had been ordered to work in pairs since the discovery.

All drugs are being double-checked and security guards have been monitoring access to medicines.

Detectives had indicated their investigations were focused on the hospital itself following the discovery that several patients had abnormally low blood sugar levels.

An investigation was launched and insulin was found in a batch of 36 saline ampoules in a storeroom close to ward A1 of the hospital.

Detectives believe the insulin was deliberately injected into the saline containers which were used in drips by at least two wards.

George Keep, 84, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and 44-year-old mother-of-two Tracey Arden are believed to be victims of the tampered medicine.

A further 12 patients were affected, one is critically ill and the rest are recovering.

The arrest came as news broke that another damaged saline solution was found on a maternity ward in the hospital.

But Greater Manchester Police said tests have shown it was not contaminated and that no mothers-to-be or babies were affected.

Former Stepping Hill Hospital health worker Gillian Smart told Sky News: "I thought security in there was quite tight."

She added: "Saline is fairly accessible but insulin isn't. It is a controlled drug and it is normally kept locked up.

"I have also worked in a nursing home and you have to witness other staff measuring out the dose and sign it. You have to witness it being administered to the patient as well."

Police inquiries have targeted deaths at the hospital from early July but they say the local coroner will be reviewing deaths at the hospital before then.

Chris Burke, chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said yesterday that security had been ramped up at the hospital.

He added that there are now daily review meetings between senior police and NHS bosses.

"Our staff are shocked, horrified and angry at what's happened. They are alarmed that a place that should be for care has become a crime scene.

"This is a criminal act, perpetrated by someone with malicious intent. We do not believe it could have been anticipated.

"This is about someone wanting to inflict harm, pain and, possibly further, as a deliberate malicious act. That is nothing to do with care."