Hospital death probe woman named

16 July 2011 Last updated at 16:01 GMT Tracey Arden's brother Gary said news of the investigation was a shock

A 44-year-old grandmother has been named as one of three patients whose deaths at a Stockport hospital are being investigated by police.

Tracey Arden, from Stockport, and two men, aged 71 and 84, died following the deliberate contamination of saline solution at Stepping Hill Hospital.

Police were alerted when insulin was discovered in a batch of 36 saline ampoules that had been tampered with.

Detectives said the deaths were being treated as unexplained.

Officers are awaiting the results of post-mortem examinations.

Eleven patients who survived the effects of the medication are to be interviewed by police.

Concerns were raised on Tuesday when an experienced nurse at the hospital reported a higher than normal number of patients with low blood sugar levels on her ward.

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We have someone deliberately contaminating saline in the one place that people should feel they are being most cared for”

End Quote Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney Insulin was subsequently found in a batch of 36 saline ampoules in a hospital storeroom.

Multiple sclerosis patient Ms Arden, a mother-of-two and grandmother, died on 7 July.

Her parents, Keith and June, visited her on that afternoon but were later called by hospital staff and told she had "taken a turn for the worse".

By the time they arrived back at Stepping Hill their daughter had died.

Ms Arden's funeral has been delayed while police investigate.

Her brother, Gary Arden, said news of the investigation was a shock as the family had initially been told she had died from a lung and chest infection related to her multiple sclerosis.

The contamination of the saline was not restricted to a single ward, the hospital said

"We accepted that as a family, that her time had come and that was the cause," he said.

"At this point in time my hope for me and my family is that the investigation takes its due course and we find that Tracey has nothing to do with this. "

The two male victims died this week. The 71-year-old man is believed to have been terminally ill while the nature of the 84-year-old man's illness has not been disclosed.

Greater Manchester Police said it was focusing its investigation from 7 July onwards but would review previous deaths at the hospital if new information came to light.

Increased security measures have been put in place at the hospital to protect patients currently receiving treatment there.

Anyone entering may now be searched and police are interviewing staff and visitors.

Chris Burke, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust's chief executive, said: "We have increased security both in terms of access to the hospital and access to medicines and already replaced all saline ampoules across the hospital.

"We are doing all we can to protect our patients and ensure their safety while under our care."

Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney, of Greater Manchester Police, 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."

Mr Sweeney said police were still waiting to find out if the contamination of the saline "contributed to the deaths of these three people".

Mark Hunter, MP for Cheadle, said: "This is obviously a very serious matter, I have to say I think the hospital have acted entirely responsibly, acted very promptly calling the police in as soon as they knew there was a problem."

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No IVF for woman with stepson, 20

7 July 2011 Last updated at 13:46 GMT Ms Henson said PCTs interpreted national guidelines to suit themselves A woman from Nottingham is angry at a decision to deny her NHS-funded fertility treatment, due to her partner having a 20-year-old son.

Susie Henson, 33, from Mapperley, was advised by her GP to seek help with conceiving a child due to long-standing fertility problems.

At her first appointment at the Queen's Medical Centre she was told she would have to pay for IVF treatment.

The East Midlands Commissioning Group said it could not comment on this case.

'Waste of money'

In a statement, Sharon Beamish, director of the East Midlands Commissioning Group - the organisation which works with primary care trusts to decide who will receive specialist treatment on the NHS - said she recognised "the difficult personal circumstances" faced by some couples.

"Our policy for IVF treatment covers the population of all nine PCT areas in the East Midlands," she said.

"It is based on fair and specific criteria which ensures equitable access to IVF services across the East Midlands for thousands of people."

But Ms Henson said PCTs were interpreting government guidelines to suit themselves.

"My partner has a 20-year-old son, I have never met him and he is not a child.

"I feel as if I have been discriminated against by the NHS. In some parts of the country a man can have up to four children from previous relationships.

'Step in'

"The government sets guidelines but the PCTs interpret them, doing things their own way.

"Why is the government wasting money setting these guidelines if PCTs are going to ignore them? The government needs to step in to make it fair."

Criteria in the East Midlands for one round of NHS-funded IVF treatment states the woman must have "no living children from current or previous relationships including adopted children but excluding foster children".

The government states it remains committed to the full implementation of the NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) guidelines on the provision of IVF, which recommends that up to three cycles of IVF are offered to eligible couples.

Ms Henson said she would not give up and has arranged a meeting with her local MP, Vernon Coaker.

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Woman attends A&E for broken nail

24 May 2011 Last updated at 14:51 GMT A woman turned up at a Kent accident and emergency department seeking treatment for a broken fingernail, an NHS trust has revealed.

NHS West Kent said the woman, who attended the A&E over a recent bank holiday, was "not admitted and politely sent on her way".

The trust said another person asked to be admitted because their new tattoo was red and sore.

It is urging people to think carefully before they seek emergency treatment.

NHS West Kent, which said it had experienced a 7% increase in patient numbers over the past two bank holidays, warned that people with minor ailments could stop others from getting "life-saving care".

'Think twice'

A&E staff were also asked to hand out repeat prescriptions, according to the trust.

Nikki Luffingham, of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, said: "Please think twice this bank holiday before seeking emergency care for minor ailments.

"Our A&E departments are highly specialised places for patients who need urgent medical attention and potentially life-saving care.

"By seeking the right kind of care, you are not just helping yourself but dozens of other people we will be seeing in our A&E departments at the same time who really need our help."

NHS West Kent has urged people to contact NHS Direct to find out what service would be appropriate.

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