DETECTIVES LAST night were questioning a 27-year-old nurse over the deaths of three patients at a hospital.
Rebecca Leighton was arrested on suspicion of murder at her home address in Stockport, Manchester, at 6am yesterday.
The unexplained deaths at Stockport’s Stepping Hill Hospital of Tracey Arden (44), George Keep (84) and Arnold Lancaster (71), are all being linked to the deliberate contamination of saline solution with insulin.
Crime investigators were at the scene of the suspect’s flat in Buxton Road, Heaviley, situated about a mile from the hospital where she works.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NWC) confirmed that Ms Leighton had been arrested.
NWC chief executive Prof Dickon Weir-Hugh said: “The NMC has now received confirmation from the Greater Manchester Police Force Intelligence Branch and Stockport NHS Foundation Trust that registered nurse Rebecca Leighton has been arrested and is being questioned by the police.
“We have commenced fitness to practise proceedings with a view to suspending her from the register as quickly as possible,” he said.
A hospital spokesman said last night that a fourth patient, a man in his 40s, was “very poorly” and remains critically ill.
A team of 60 detectives have questioned more than 50 staff. The treatment of 10 other patients, who were affected by the contaminated batch of saline from July 7th but have since recovered, is also under investigation.
Detectives were called in last week after an experienced nurse reported a higher than normal number of patients on her ward with “unexplained” low blood sugar levels, pointing to saline ampoules being sabotaged.
Officers found insulin had contaminated a batch of 36 saline ampoules in a store room close to ward A1 of the hospital.
The results of further pathology tests are being awaited.
Inquests into the deaths of all three patients were adjourned by South Manchester coroner John Pollard yesterday. – (PA)