5 Jan 2012

Arrest made in Stepping Hill deaths investigation

Police investigating the deliberate contamination of medication at Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport arrest a 46-year-old male nurse.

Since July 2010, detectives have been investigating the deaths of three people at Stepping Hill hospital, near Stockport, after after nurses discovered saline drips that had apparently been contaminated.

However they stressed that, at this point in time, the latest arrest relates to events which took place in early January and the man arrested is being questioned over these events only.

The 46-year old male nurse was arrested on suspicion of tampering with medical records. He was arrested at his home in Stockport and is being held on suspicion of unlawfully administering a noxious substance, or poison.

The alert was raised by staff at the hospital, who reported that medical forms had been altered overnight, causing one patient to be given additional amounts of medication. This person was carefully monitored by hospital staff and has since been discharged.

This is, and has always been, a search for the truth. Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney

July deaths

The arrest came as it emerged that the death of an 82-year-old man on new year’s eve is also now being investigated, as his medicines appear to have been contaminated.

His is the fourth death being investigated by police working on the inquiry, which has been underway since July 2010.

Police believe that in total, 20 people in July were deliberately poisoned when insulin was injected into their drips. Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71 and Derek Weaver, 83, all died after being given contaminated saline at the hospital although tests are still ongoing over whether the tampering directly lead to their deaths.

Nurse Rebecca Leighton was arrested in July by police investigating the deaths, but she was released without charge in September.

Complex investigation

Greater Manchester Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: “This is, and always has been, a search for the truth.

“It is due to the diligence of staff at the hospital that we were made aware about the potential tampering of medical records and everyone should be reassured that, like the hospital, we initiated a swift response and have consequently arrested a member of staff in relation to this matter.

“I must stress that at this time he is only being spoken to in relation to these matters and, as we have previously said, we will not and cannot rule out making further arrests in the coming days or weeks.

“I cannot stress enough just how complex an investigation this is and it is one that we continue to commit significant resources to. I know relatives of the confirmed victims affected and the public in general continue to seek answers and we are working as quickly as we can to provide them without jeopardising the quality or integrity of the investigation.

“For obvious reasons, I cannot go into detail about the ongoing work we are doing but would like to take the opportunity to thank the hospital and staff for their continued and unreserved cooperation.”

Anyone with information relevant to the investigation is being asked to call the incident room on 0161 856 2480.