Freed nurse tells of living hell as patient poisoning case collapses

POLICE are investigating the deaths of seven patients in a hospital tampering probe after discontinuing proceedings against a nurse who spent more than six weeks in custody accused of contaminating saline.

Rebecca Leighton said she had been “living in hell”, locked up in prison for something she had not done.

Prosecutors said it was “no longer appropriate” to continue proceedings against the 27-year-old, whose alleged criminal damage had been linked to a number of unexplained deaths at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.

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Greater Manchester Police said it was now investigating the deaths of seven patients - and potentially 40 victims in total - connected with sabotaged saline drips.

Four of those whose deaths are being probed have yet to be named but their families are aware that the cases have been referred to police by Stockport coroner John Pollard.

Detectives had previously announced they were looking at the suspicious deaths of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Derek Weaver, 83.

Two other patients, George Keep and Vera Pearson - both 84 - were also linked to the inquiry but their deaths were later ruled out as not suspicious.

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Ms Leighton left HMP Styal in Cheshire yesterday and went home to her parents David and Lynda after spending 45 days in custody following her arrest, initially on suspicion of murder.

Speaking on her behalf outside the family home in Denton, Greater Manchester, her solicitor Carl Richmond said: “I have been living in hell and was locked up in prison for something I had not done.

“It was so frustrating for me knowing that the person who actually carried out these terrible acts is still out there.

“My life has been turned upside down. All I ever wanted to do was pursue a profession in nursing, and care for my patients.

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“I think it unbelievable that anyone in the medical profession would ever put their patients’ lives at risk.”

The alarm was raised in July when a higher than normal number of patients were reported to have “unexplained” low blood sugar levels amid fears saline solution had been contaminated with insulin.

Ms Leighton, of Heaviley, Stockport, was arrested later that month and then charged with three counts of causing criminal damage with intent to endanger life and three alternative counts of causing damage being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

She was due to enter pleas next month ahead of a provisional trial date of next February over the allegations that she tampered with saline ampoules, saline bags and medical products.

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Last month at a bail application hearing, her barrister told a judge at Manchester Crown Court that the case against her was “weak” and she had “no case to answer”.

CPS prosecutor Nazir Afzal said last night: “The inquiries, which are still ongoing, have not so far provided us with a stronger case which would meet the test that there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.”

He said the prosecution could be restarted if “further evidence is presented” but added “on the evidence currently available there is not a case in law which could proceed”.

Greater Manchester Police said the investigation was “complex and ongoing”, comparing it with the force’s probe into the bombing of Manchester city centre by the IRA.

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Speaking of the 40 cases his detectives are investigating, Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: “All these people who came into the contact of the hospital were particularly poorly people so we have to understand the impact of contamination, although we are clear there was contamination in a number of saline products.”

Police have interviewed 200 out of 700 people they want to speak to. Their list includes potential victims as well as hospital staff, patients and visitors.

The force said there were two confirmed cases where there is a “high probability” that the deaths were caused by contaminated products.

Mr Sweeney said: “In this case our further investigation has shown that there were over 700 people who could have had access to the area concerned in a tight time period.”

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He said a working hospital is a very busy environment where “huge numbers” of people come and go.

“No one has made any definitive admissions in this case, there is obviously no CCTV of patient treatment and many members of staff had legitimate access to the areas and materials involved,” he said.

“We need a long period of time to complete this investigation and eliminate those who were not involved and it is only right in these circumstances to discontinue the (Leighton) case until we can deal with these issues.”

Ms Leighton remains suspended from working as a nurse.

A spokeswoman for the Nursing and Midwifery Council said: “The interim order suspending Ms Leighton from the NMC’s register, which was imposed on August 2 will remain in place at present.

“We will continue to liaise with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust to carry out our own investigations, and establish whether further action needs to be taken.”