* YOU BEEN SNAP * RUWA MANGI" FIFTH patient dies in hospital saline drip 'poisoning' as murder detectives are granted more time to question nurse, 27"

• Police confirm that a man, 83, and a woman, 84, have both died
• A 41-year-old man remains in hospital in a critical condition
• Nurse had 'frantic' social life to cope with the stress of work
• Damaged drip found on maternity ward reported to police
• Staff at the hospital have been told to work in pairs
• 60 detectives investigating medication sabotage after five deaths

*MKILETEWA HAPA NA FLORA LYIMO DESIGNER*


Two further deaths are being investigated at the hospital where saline drips were sabotaged taking the total number of suspicious deaths to five.

The patients were an 83-year-old man - this evening named as Alfred Weaver - and an 84-year-old woman, Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said.

The latest deaths come as police were granted more time to question a 27-year-old woman on suspicion of murder.

Murder probe: Alfred Weaver, 83, is the latest patient to die at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, where it is alleged saline drips have been sabotaged.

ANAYE HOJIWA KWA MAUWAJI HAYO "  Nurse Rebecca Leighton has been arrested on suspicion of murder'

Police clarified earlier reports suggesting a 41-year-old man had died. The officer said he was in fact still very poorly.

Both of them had been on wards A1 and A3 which is where detectives have focused their investigation into the deaths.

Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport confirmed his death today as police continued to question a nurse accused of killing three patients using contaminated drips.

Rebecca Leighton was arrested in a dawn raid at the small flat she shares with her fiancé and was being questioned by detectives last night.

In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: 'Police have been given more time to question a woman arrested on suspicion of murder.

'The 27-year-old was arrested on Wednesday by detectives investigating the deaths of five patients at Stepping Hill Hospital.
'A warrant of further detention has been granted and is due to expire at 9.05pm on Friday.
'Inquiries are continuing.'

Known as Becki, the 27-year-old works at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport where her mother, Lynda, is understood to be a nurse training manager.

She is being held on suspicion of the murders there of George Keep, 84, Arnold Lancaster, 71, and Tracey Arden, 44.

The 85-year-old woman died on July 14 but her death is being linked with the other four.

A/Ch Const 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.

'I want to make it abundantly clear that we are working closely with the coroner and, as is to be expected, it is likely we will be asked to investigate further deaths.

'In the main these are likely to be deaths of people who are elderly and/or ill, and we fully support the coroner's 'belt and braces' approach to ensuring future deaths that require further investigation are appropriately investigated and scrutinised.
'I cannot emphasis enough how complex an investigation this is, requiring detailed forensic and medical analysis, and want to take the opportunity to thank the hospital and staff for their on-going help and support.

'Our inquiry has gathered apace and while we have made an arrest any suggestion that this investigation is close to being complete is misleading.'

Leighton – who documented her frantic social life and drinking on Facebook – is being quizzed about insulin which detectives believe was deliberately injected into 36 vials of saline solution to kill or harm patients.

Post-mortem examination results on the three who died are understood to have been inconclusive.

Police have stressed that proving a link between their deaths and the suspected insulin poisoning is likely to be a slow and complex process.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said that the deaths of two elderly patients were being linked to the ongoing investigation'

Teams of plain-clothed forensics experts in unmarked pick-up trucks spent the day searching both her flat and the darts shop below, which belongs to her fiancé Tim Papworth, 28.

The officers later left the flat with about six black bags and a computer and hard drive. The hospital is a 15-minute walk away on the busy A6.

Police have until early this evening to continue questioning Leighton before they must decide whether to charge her, release her or apply for more time to keep her in custody.

Mrs Leighton, 55, is understood to train nurses at Stepping Hill and is described as extremely caring. Her husband David, 60, is a coach driver who has worked with the Manchester City football team.

Friends of Miss Leighton said that she is a 'lovely and happy' person and her arrest has stunned them. Gavin Heaton, 27, said she was a bridesmaid at his wedding to wife Jayne two years ago.
He said: 'She's worked at Stepping Hill a long time and worked her way up there. She enjoyed nursing. I'm shocked, I can't believe it. My wife and her grew up together and I found her just to be a normal person, like any mate.
'My wife is distraught. They were as close as they come. It must be a huge misunderstanding. Rebecca is just a nice girl, she's great.'
Another close friend, who did not wish to be named, said: 'I can't believe it. She was just a lovely, happy person.'
Neighbour Frank Eaton, an 83-year-old widower, said: ‘They are a lovely couple. ‘When I lost my wife Jean recently, Lynda came round every night for weeks to make sure I was all right. But she’s like that, she’s in the caring profession.
Another neighbour said: ‘Lynda is quite high up at the hospital. She is a manager at Stepping Hill training nurses. Her daughter followed her into the profession – they are both very caring people.’

The hospital contacted police last Tuesday after an experienced nurse reported a higher than normal number of patients with ‘unexplained’ low blood sugar levels. Fourteen received dangerous levels of insulin from contaminated saline.
Security at the hospital has been increased with only authorised keyholders having access to drugs and medics working in pairs to minimise the chance of foul play.
These measures are expected to remain in place over the coming days.
In addition, ambulances bringing patients for emergency treatment have been diverted to other hospitals which have been warned to be vigilant to any ‘unusual events or patterns’.
Dorothy Potter, an elderly patient treated on the ward where saline was contaminated, said she had not been concerned about her care.

Speaking to the BBC, she called the nurses brilliant and absolutely wonderful, night and day. Asked how she felt about the revelations, she added: ‘I feel very disappointed for everybody really.’

Victims: Tracey Arden, 44, George Keep, 84, and Arnold Lancaster, 71, who died at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport;

Police question visitors to Stepping Hill Hospital'

Leighton is facing swift suspension by the Nursing and Midwifery Council – a standard move in such cases.
Last night chief executive Professor Dickon Weir-Hughes said: ‘We have commenced fitness to practise proceedings with a view to suspending her from the register as quickly as possible.’
Dr Chris Burke, chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘As the police are continuing with their inquiries we are unable to provide any further details, but it is important to stress that no charge has been made at this stage.’
Police have said their priority is to track down and charge the suspected saboteur after which they will examine whether he or she was also responsible for previous deaths at the hospital.

Work is so hard: Facebook lament of suspect nurse;

Rebecca Leighton’s Facebook pages tell of a frantic social life that helped her cope with the stress of work.

Last month she wrote on the social networking site: ‘Worst night’s sleep ever last nite, now for 14 hr shift aggghhhhhhh’ and ‘really really don’t want to go to work’.

In another post she put: ‘Bad bad day follow(ed) by wine is a must.’

Rebecca Leighton's Facebook pages tell of a frantic social life that helped her cope with the stress of work.

In one picture, Leighton is seen downing a bottle of wine.

She adds: ‘Well what can i say, im a happy go lucky kinda gal, loves the wkend (if im not workin) and having a laugh with the people that i call friends [sic] for a reason.’

She describes her job as ‘NHS staff nurse’, but adds, ‘god it hard work x’.

The page is littered with entries about not looking forward to work – in one, posted two weeks ago, she wrote: ‘Back to work in the morn’ followed by an unhappy face symbol.

Ahead of one work night out, she wrote: ‘Oh what will tonight bring... drunken nurses!’

Last Friday – the day after police were called in – she posted: ‘This is what it’s all about’.

It was her first entry in a week and referred to how she was enjoying ‘food, DVD and monkey’ – her nickname for fiancé, Tim Papworth, 28, who runs a darts shop.

Her previous posting – simply the word ‘shattered’ – was posted on the evening of July 8.

On July 2, she was pictured smiling and surrounded by friends at a leaving party enjoying drinks and partying.

At a convenience store near her Stockport home, proprietor Hamid Bayatpoor, 47, said: ‘She comes in all the time in her nurse’s uniform and buys wine and cigarettes – Echo Falls rosé and packets of 20 or 40 Mayfair.

Flat: The 27-year-old nurse lives above a darts shop'

‘At the weekend she comes in all dressed up, wearing a party dress.

‘She’s a very nice girl, always laughing and smiling – I’m very surprised she’s been arrested.’

Leighton grew up in Stockport, attending Priestnall High School. She then completed an Open University nursing course following in the footsteps of her mother Lynda at Stepping Hill.

Suspicious: Diabetic actor Sam Edge, 23, believes that he was given the poison saline solution, giving him three sudden drops in blood sugar'

Family friend Frank Eaton, 83, said: ‘She’s very polite and very pleasant, she followed her mum into the profession.’

On Facebook, Leighton frequently complained about having to go to work, claiming she was drained after long shifts, night shifts and overtime.

Last month, she posted: ‘Really really don’t want to go to work :( xx’ follwed by ‘Drained is not the word :(‘

On May 30, she wrote: ‘Becki Leighton… is wondering what’s round the corner :)’

In postings punctuated with smiley faces and exclamation marks, she also discloses details of boozy evenings and weekends with her friends.

In October last year, she writes: ‘Becki Leighton… thinks 2nite is guna end up messy’.

On February 11, at 3.34am, she writes: ‘Oh what will tonight bring...... Drunken nurses!!!!!! :)’

Later, she writes: ‘Let the alcohol filled wkend begin’ followed by a posting about ‘messy times with my Girlies tonite’.

Last night the blinds at her parents’ £175,000 three-bedroom semi-detached home were shut and there was no answer at the door.

A neighbour in the Denton district of Greater Manchester, said: ‘I’m absolutely stunned. It has left me in total shock.

‘I can’t believe Becki would get mixed up in anything of the sort.

‘She is a lovely girl, polite and caring like her mother, and it is the last thing you would expect of a nurse. Everyone won’t believe me when I tell them.’

Her brother Darren, a mechanic, is on a round-the-world trip after being made redundant from his engineering job at Renault.

A friend said: ‘He’ll be devastated to hear this. It will leave him in shock.’