Hospital calls in police after three die

Detectives are now looking at the deaths of a 44-year-old woman and two men, aged 71 and 84, at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

A total of 12 patients were wrongly given insulin in their medication which may have led to the fatalities, police sources said.

Security at the hospital was stepped up yesterday, as police said it was clear that someone had been tampering with vials of saline and they needed to be caught.

Describing it as a “fast-moving investigation”, assistant chief constable Terry Sweeney said: “We have someone deliberately contaminating saline in the one place that people should feel they are being most cared for.

“I want to reassure everyone connected to the hospital – staff, patients, visitors and the wider community – that we are determined to prevent further harm and to bring the offender to justice.

“We are working very closely with the hospital to improve the security of the patients and staff at the hospital.”

As well as increased security patrols, he said he would also suggest to health trust bosses that anyone entering the hospital should be searched beforehand.

Mr Sweeney said it would be speculation to say the offender was a member of staff but he said all medical professionals at the hospital as well as patients would be spoken to in the next 24 hours.

Hospital chiefs contacted police on Tuesday after an experienced nurse reported a higher than normal number of patients on her ward with “unexplained” low blood sugar levels.

The hospital concluded that some saline ampoules had been “interfered with”.

It is understood officers have started the process of interviewing anyone who had access to the ward in question, including doctors, nurses and porters.

Det Supt Julian Ross, of Greater Manchester Police, said: “We are investigating the deaths of a 44-year-old woman and two men aged 71 and 84.

“I must stress the cause of death is not known and any speculation about this would not be helpful to our investigation or welcomed by the families of these people.”

The 44-year-old woman and the 71-year-old man were terminally ill.

A spokesman for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said: “The hospital found that some saline ampoules had been interfered with and, as a result, commenced an immediate investigation.

“Greater Manchester Police has been asked to assist with the investigation, which is at a very early stage.”

Dr Chris Burke, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s chief executive, said: “We are now in the process of contacting patients and the relatives of those who may have been affected.”