Hospital Poison Probe: Male Nurse Arrested

Mike McCarthy north of England correspondent
A male nurse has been arrested by police investigating the poisoning of patients at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
The 46-year-old suspect was arrested at his home in Stockport this morning.
It came as it emerged that the death of an 82-year-old man on New Year's Eve is also now being investigated as his medicines were contaminated.
His is now the fourth death being investigated by detectives working on the inquiry.
After the contamination of saline drips at the hospital in June and July last year, Arnold Lancaster, 71, Tracey Arden, 44, and Alfred Derek Weaver, 83, all died.
Another 16 patients at the hospital are believed to have been poisoned but survived.
Police believe saline was deliberately injected with insulin.
The suspect is being held on suspicion of unlawfully administering a noxious substance, or poison, after it was found that medical records had been tampered with on Monday.
Sources close to the investigation said the arrest forms part of a separate probe to the one looking at the tampering of saline drips last year.
As yet there is no link between the two investigations, sources said, but the suspect worked on the same wards at the same time the patients were poisoned last summer.
Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney said: "This is, and always has been, a search for the truth.
"It is due to the diligence of staff at the hospital that we were made aware about the potential tampering of medical records and everyone should be reassured that, like the hospital, we initiated a swift response and have consequently arrested a member of staff in relation to this matter.
"I must stress that at this time he is only being spoken to in relation to these matters and, as we have previously said, we will not and cannot rule out making further arrests in the coming days or weeks."
The latest stage in the six-month police probe comes after nurse Rebecca Leighton was arrested on suspicion of murder but released without charge.
After six weeks in custody, the 27-year-old was freed on September 2 last year when criminal charges against her were dropped.
Concerns were first raised by hospital staff June 1 and July 15 last year when a number of patients on two wards were reported to have "unexplained" low blood sugar levels.
The suspect held is one of the 650 people already spoken to by police during their complex and long-running investigation at the hospital.
Chris Burke, chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust which runs the hospital, said of the latest development: "We are appalled by the malicious intent of this act, but thanks to the skill and experience of our staff it was spotted and reported immediately, and most importantly we ensured no patient suffered any ill-effects.
"This criminal act does not reflect on the good care provided by dedicated and committed staff and the effective working practices in our hospital. The safety of our patients remains our highest priority.
"As no charge has been made, it is important to note that police are continuing with their inquiries. We continue to support the police in this ongoing investigation."