Insulin poisoning hospital assessed

Government inspectors have carried out a surprise inspection at a hospital at the centre of a police probe into insulin poisoning.

Experts from health watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out the inspection at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport, Greater Manchester, last month.

Detectives believe somebody at the hospital injected saline with insulin, poisoning 22 patients.

The contamination was discovered in July last year.

A CQC spokesperson said: "The CQC carried out an unannounced inspection at Stepping Hill Hospital on Monday, March 26, where inspectors focused on standards relating to patient care and welfare, medicines management and the internal assessments in place to monitor service provision.

"The CQC will publish full details of the inspectors' findings from this visit in a review of compliance on its website in the near future."

Hospital bosses say safety procedures have been reviewed since the contamination was discovered.

They include keeping saline locked away.

A hospital spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that we have had a visit from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and are currently awaiting their report.

"This visit was part of the CQC's annual programme of inspections which are carried out nationally."