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19 July 2011
Last updated at 06:00 ET
The person that contaminated the saline of three patients who later died at a Greater Manchester hospital may still be on the site, police have said.
Tracey Arden, 44, George Keep, 84, and Arnold Lancaster, 71, have all died at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport through suspected contaminated saline.
Detectives believe insulin was injected into saline containers which were used by at least two wards at the hospital.
Staff at the hospital have been told to work in pairs.
A fourth patient is also critically ill. The man, in his 40s, now forms part of the huge police investigation.
Officers have ruled out making quick arrests in the case, which involves 60 detectives.
They are interviewing people who work or visit the site and security has been increased.
'Malicious intent' And Greater Manchester police said they could not rule out the person responsible still being at the hospital.
Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "Our investigation in the initial stages is concentrating on people that work within the hospital or visited the hospital.
"Clearly that is where you would expect us to start.
"We are not ruling out it could be someone outside the hospital but our focus has been on staff and visitors to the hospital at this stage."
Chris Burke, chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said staff were "shocked, horrified and angry" at the situation.
"They are alarmed that a place that should be for care has become a crime scene.
"This is a criminal act, perpetrated by someone with malicious intent. We do not believe it could have been anticipated.
"This is a bad person doing a malevolent thing.
"This is about someone wanting to inflict harm, pain and, possibly further, as a deliberate malicious act. That is nothing to do with care."
The deaths of Ms Arden, Mr Lancaster and Mr Keep are being treated as unexplained until the outcome of post-mortem investigations.
South Manchester coroner John Pollard briefly opened inquests into all three earlier.
They were adjourned until a later date at the request of Supt Julian Ross, who is leading the inquiry into the deaths.
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Tracey Arden, 44, George Keep, 84, and Arnold Lancaster, 71, have all died at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport through suspected contaminated saline.
Detectives believe insulin was injected into saline containers which were used by at least two wards at the hospital.
Staff at the hospital have been told to work in pairs.
A fourth patient is also critically ill. The man, in his 40s, now forms part of the huge police investigation.
Officers have ruled out making quick arrests in the case, which involves 60 detectives.
They are interviewing people who work or visit the site and security has been increased.
'Malicious intent' And Greater Manchester police said they could not rule out the person responsible still being at the hospital.
Greater Manchester Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said: "Our investigation in the initial stages is concentrating on people that work within the hospital or visited the hospital.
"Clearly that is where you would expect us to start.
"We are not ruling out it could be someone outside the hospital but our focus has been on staff and visitors to the hospital at this stage."
Chris Burke, chief executive of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said staff were "shocked, horrified and angry" at the situation.
"They are alarmed that a place that should be for care has become a crime scene.
"This is a criminal act, perpetrated by someone with malicious intent. We do not believe it could have been anticipated.
"This is a bad person doing a malevolent thing.
"This is about someone wanting to inflict harm, pain and, possibly further, as a deliberate malicious act. That is nothing to do with care."
The deaths of Ms Arden, Mr Lancaster and Mr Keep are being treated as unexplained until the outcome of post-mortem investigations.
South Manchester coroner John Pollard briefly opened inquests into all three earlier.
They were adjourned until a later date at the request of Supt Julian Ross, who is leading the inquiry into the deaths.
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