Stepping Hill hospital deaths: nurse makes court appearance

Rebecca Leighton held in custody on charges of endangering life by criminal damage in saline sabotage case A nurse charged with putting insulin in saline bags at a hospital where patients’ deaths are now under investigation has appeared in court via videolink. Rebecca Leighton, 27, was arrested in July by detectives investigating the deaths of patients at Stepping Hill hospital, in Hazel Grove, Stockport. The hearing took place on Monday morning at Manchester crown court. Leighton, who is being held in custody, is charged with three counts of criminal damage with intent to endanger life and three charges of being reckless as to whether life was being endangered. Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, said detectives were arranging to interview “several hundred” patients and staff as part of the inquiry. He said: “The inquiry is very wide-ranging. There are a very large number of individuals who have been identified by the police to be interviewed. “There are 600 exhibits that are also being examined in this case and a large number of documents that have been recovered from the hospital that are subject to examination, including patient records and also records in respect of the receipt, storage and subsequent use of various items.” Examining each exhibit in total would take months, he said. The interview process would also be lengthy, the court heard. “There are several hundred such interviews to be undertaken and concluded,” Wright said, adding that toxicology and pathology results in the case were still awaited. Simon Csoka QC, defending, said: “The defendant is anxious that this matter be tried as quickly as possible.” Neighbours and colleagues of Leighton were in the public gallery but her family did not attend the preliminary hearing. Leighton, who appeared via videolink from prison, spoke only to confirm her name and a provisional trial date was scheduled for 28 February. The charges relate to the alleged tampering of saline ampoules, saline bags and medical products. Leighton is also charged with theft of medicine. She is next due to appear in court on 17 October for a plea and case management hearing. Greater Manchester police have said they are no longer investigating the death of one of five patients. The family of 84-year-old George Keep, of Cheadle, was told his death no longer formed part of the inquiry. He died on 14 July after being admitted to hospital with a broken hip. Police continue to investigate the deaths last month of Tracey Arden, 44, Arnold Lancaster, 71, Derek Weaver, 83, and Vera Pearson, 84. The alarm was raised when a large number of patients were reported to have unexplained low blood sugar levels. The Nursing and Midwifery Council will hold a hearing on Tuesday over whether to impose an interim ban on Leighton working. Helen Carter guardian.co.uk

Posted by on August 1, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.