Two more suspicious deaths at hospital

Guardian News and Media/London

Security guards patrol the entrance to Stepping Hill hospital in Stockport, northern England

Two more suspicious deaths at Stepping Hill hospital are being investigated by police as they continue to interview a 27-year-old nurse.Detectives said an initial postmortem examination on an 84-year-old woman who died at the hospital last Thursday had failed to establish a cause of death.The case was referred to the South Manchester coroner, John Pollard, on Wednesday as a result of her low blood sugar level.A Home Office post mortem is due to be carried out on the woman, who has not been identified.Meanwhile, an 83-year-old man died yesterday after having suffered a hypoglycaemic episode low blood sugar on July 11, police said. The cause of his death is not known and a Home Office postmortem examination will be carried out.A 27-year-old nurse, Rebecca Leighton, who was arrested at her home in Heaviley, Stockport, on Wednesday continues to be questioned by police on suspicion of murder.She has not been charged with any offence.Police, the coroner and staff at the hospital are working closely together and future deaths are likely to be referred to the police major incident team for review.A man in his 40s remains in a critical condition after an unexpected drop in his blood sugar levels. Another patient, a woman, is recovering after becoming ill.Tests are continuing to determine if saline that had been injected with insulin was directly responsible for the deaths of Tracey Arden, 44, 84-year-old George Keep, and Arnold Lancaster, 71.Assistant chief constable Ian Hopkins said: “As with the deaths of George Keep, Arnold Lancaster and Tracey Arden the cause of this man and woman’s death is not known and it is important we do not lose sight of this fact.“In relation to the death of the woman, this was referred to us by the coroner and after a review of the circumstances surrounding this death notably the low blood sugar level we have decided to investigate further.“In relation to the man’s death, due to the fact he suffered a hypoglycaemic episode during a timeframe we are looking at it is only right we conduct further inquiries. We have family liaison officers with both families and my thoughts are with them as they are with the relatives of all affected by this incident.”Leighton, who works as a nurse at the hospital, was arrested at her flat in the Heaviley district of Stockport at 6am on Wednesday.