Four medics are arrested over mistreatment and neglect claims at NHS Blackpool Victoria Hospital 

Four healthcare professionals have been arrested over allegations of mistreatment and neglect at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. 

Last November, Lancashire Police were asked by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to investigate alleged incidents in their stroke unit.

One suspected allegation is patients were wrongly administered with prescription-only ‘zombie’ sedation drug Zopiclone, to make them sleepy.

Last year a female nurse was arrested in November, then in December a male medic and female health care professional were also arrested.

They were quizzed on suspicion of administering a poison or ‘noxious’ thing with the intent to injure and ill treatment or wilful neglect. All were released on bail.

Today four more medics – one man and three women – were arrested on the same poisoning and neglect allegations. Lancashire Police said all four ‘are currently in custody.’

Det Chief Insp Jill Johnston, of Lancashire Police, confirmed ‘a number of post-mortem examinations have taken place’ of patients due to their probe.

Det Chief Insp Johnston added: ‘Our investigation into allegations of mistreatment and neglect of patients at Blackpool Victoria Hospital is very much on-going.

‘I understand further arrests could be concerning but I would like to reassure people we have a dedicated team of detectives working on this investigation.

‘Our priority and the priority of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to ensure the safety of patients.

‘Given the number of arrests and the nature of the allegations, it remains a complex and sensitive inquiry.

‘No timescales have been set and I would ask people to remain patient while we continue to conduct our enquiries.

‘A number of post-mortem examinations have taken place in connection with our investigation.

‘We are supporting those families who have had loved ones identified as potentially being involved.

‘They are being kept fully updated and supported throughout the process by specially trained officers.

‘We are working closely with the Trust as well as HM Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde as part of the investigation.’

Officers are probing whether nursing staff had been heavily sedating their patients during night shifts with the drug which can only be prescribed by their GP.

It has previously been claimed up to eight former patients on the stroke unit have so far been identified as potential victims.

The original allegations were made by a whistle blower, who is also a member of staff of the 780-bed hospital.

In January detectives confirmed a murder investigation was on-going following the death of a woman in her 70s on the stroke unit in November.

However this is being treated as a separate investigation.

Heartbroken families have previously said they were worried their family members have been caught up in the investigation.

One grieving daughter was told to cancel her dad’s funeral as his body was taken away for a post-mortem examination.

Blackpool South MP, Gordon Marsden, has previously said: ‘This is a very serious and needs to be investigated with all speed and with the maximum transparency.’

BVH is the main hospital for Blackpool and Lancashire’s Fylde Coast and the leading hospital for heart surgery in the region.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman Wendy Swift has stressed ‘all allegations’ are taken ‘extremely seriously’.

She added: ‘When the concerns were raised we immediately contacted the police. The trust is continuing to work with the police and co-operate fully with their investigation.

‘The hospital remains a safe and caring environment for patients, and the provision of services will continue as usual.’