Police in Britain are investigating a number of suspicious deaths at a hospital.
Tracey Arden (44), George Keep (84) and Arnold Lancaster (71) died at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, and the deaths of all three are being linked to the deliberate contamination of saline solution.
Insulin was found in a batch of 36 saline ampoules in a storeroom close to ward A1 of the hospital in Cheshire.
Detectives believe the insulin was deliberately injected into the saline containers which were used in drips by at least two wards, but they say the three deaths remain unexplained as they await post-mortem examination results.
Ian Hopkins, Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the families of Tracey Arden, George Keep and Arnold Lancaster. The anguish they will be feeling at this time must be terrible.
“We have about 60 experienced detectives working on this. They have worked 24/7 since the investigation began and they working as fast as they can without compromising the quality of the investigation."
A patient with lung cancer, Mr Keep died at Stepping Hill Hospital two days after a ward nurse raised concerns about a higher than normal number of patients with unexplained low blood sugar levels. The pensioner from Cheadle was admitted to Stepping Hill on June 27th after he suffered a broken hip in a fall.
He was operated on and was recovering well until two days before his death when his blood pressure and blood sugar levels started to drop, said his daughter Carolyn Knowles. She said her family were now “concerned” that the number of deaths that police are investigating will rise.
“If you go into hospital, it is supposed to be a safe place,” she said. “It is a place where you trust people."
Long-term multiple sclerosis sufferer Ms Arden, a mother-of-two, died on July 7th, while Mr Lancaster died last Monday.
There has been growing speculation that several more deaths may be looked at and that the contamination could have taken place outside the hospital. Police are continuing to interview doctors, nurses, porters, patients and visitors, while security remains high in and around the hospital.
Eleven people who survived the effects of the tampered medication will also be interviewed.
South Manchester coroner John Pollard is due to open inquests on all three deaths tomorrow.
PA