UK - Valerie Kneale, 75, Stroke Patient, Blackpool, 16 Nov 2018, *Healthcare Worker Arrested*

[Legally Bland]

Man arrested as part of investigations related to hospital
Wednesday, March 3, 2021

A man has today (Wednesday, March 3) been arrested by police as part of ongoing investigations related to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

In November 2018, police were made aware of allegations of mistreatment and neglect on the stroke unit.

As part of the investigation a number of post-mortem examinations were conducted. These included Valerie Kneale, 75, from Blackpool, who sadly died from a haemorrhage caused by a non medical related internal injury.

Following this a separate murder investigation was launched.

As a result of this inquiry, information related to other allegations of serious sexual assaults against two patients has been received, as well as the sexual assault of a healthcare professional working on the stroke unit.

Following enquiries, a healthcare professional has been arrested on suspicion of murder, two offences of rape and one offence of sexual assault. He is currently in custody.

He has been suspended by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The arrest is not linked to the ongoing investigation into allegations of poisoning and neglect.

Detectives recognise the arrest and the nature of the allegations will cause some alarm but want to reassure the public a major investigation is ongoing.

Det Ch Insp Jill Johnston, of Lancashire Police, said: “We have today arrested a man in connection with a number of serious offences.
“We understand this will cause some significant concern in the community but please be reassured we have a dedicated team of officers conducting a number of enquiries.
“These are complicated and sensitive allegations which we are committed to investigating thoroughly.
“We are offering support to those involved and they are being updated throughout the process by trained officers.
“Our priority and the priority of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is to ensure the safety of patients. We are working closely with the Trust as well as HM Coroner for Blackpool and Fylde as part of the investigation.
“If you have any information or have worked on the stroke unit and can assist with our enquiries, please come forward and speak to police immediately.”
Anyone with information in connection with the investigation can contact police on 101 quoting log 0942 of March 3 or report it via the major incident portal at Public Portal

Alternatively, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Lancashire Constabulary - Man arrested as part of investigations related to hospital

 

[Legally Bland]

A healthcare professional has been arrested on suspicion of murder and rape as part of an investigation into a patient's death at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, police have said.

Lancashire Police said the man was arrested as part of the investigation into Valerie Kneale's death in 2018.

Ms Kneale, 75, died from a haemorrhage caused by a "non-medical related internal injury", a spokesman said.

Murder and rape arrest in Blackpool hospital death investigation

 

[Legally Bland]

The poison plot probe was launched in November 2018 after a whistleblower raised the alarm. Detectives, who have grilled seven hospital workers since, believe elderly patients were given prescription-only drugs to keep them heavily sedated at night.

The drug, Zopiclone, is widely used and, when used properly, perfectly safe.

A “number” of post-mortems have been carried out, police said, though the force has remained largely tight-lipped throughout the past two years, even with local MPs calling for more transparency. However, at least eight people were flagged up as possible victims within the first weeks of the investigation, The Gazette reported.

Blackpool Victoria Hospital medic arrested on suspicion of murdering patient - and is also being quizzed over alleged rapes and sex attack

 

[Legally Bland]

Just noticed I've spelled 'arrested' wrong in the title

 

[HollyHunter9]

Wow this was investigated after whistleblowing. I wonder how long it had actually been going on for? Really serious suspected offences too.

"The poison plot probe was launched in November 2018 after a whistleblower raised the alarm. Detectives, who have grilled seven hospital workers since, believe elderly patients were given prescription-only drugs to keep them heavily sedated at night."

*edited to change 'charges' to 'offences' as I don't think he's actually been charged yet going by the info above in MSM articles.

 

[HollyHunter9]

Just noticed I've spelled 'arrested' wrong in the title

I didn't notice until you just pointed it out

 

[dotr]

Everything we know so far about murder inquiry at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

A murder investigation is underway after a separate inquiry into suspected mistreatment at Blackpool Victoria Hospital uncovered Valerie Kneale had suffered a "suspicious" injury.

''Three nurses have so far been arrested - and bailed pending further inquiries - as part of that investigation. The first was arrested on November 9, the day after the concerns were flagged up to police. The others were arrested a month later.

Detectives ordered post mortem tests on "a number of patients" and that is how Ms Kneale's injury came to light. However, her death is being investigated separately to the ongoing poisonings inquiry.''

 

[LadyL]

omg this is so sick
poor victims

 

[dotr]

Patients and a staff member in the stroke unit were allegedly sexually assaulted, what on earth was going on there! imo.
rbbm.
Hospital worker arrested on suspicion of patient murder and rape | ITV News
''Several post morterms were carried out, including that of Valerie Kneale from the town, who was found to have died from a haemorrhage caused by a non-medical-related internal injury. A murder investigation was launched, which brought more allegations of sexual assault against patients and staff.

The force said information related to other allegations of serious sexual assaults against two patients has also been received, as well as the sexual assault of a healthcare professional working on the stroke unit.''

 

[Marg from Oz]

That "non medical related internal injury" jumped out at me. Three nurses arrested! How did these despicable people end up at the same hospital?
As a retired nurse I'm S.M.H. How could this happen? MOO

 

[Tortoise]

excerpt:

"A hospital worker arrested over the murder of a stroke victim and three serious sexual assaults has been quizzed under caution over the rape of two other patients and further sex attacks on seven staff.

The Blackpool Victoria Hospital employee - who is currently suspended - was voluntarily interviewed about the additional allegations by Lancashire Police yesterday.

He is currently on bail after being arrested in March on suspicion of the murder of Valerie Kneale, 75, from Blackpool and sexual assaults against two other patients and a healthcare professional."


NHS worker arrested for murder of patient, 75, and three sex attacks quizzed over further complaints | Daily Mail Online

 

[HollyHunter9]

excerpt:

"A hospital worker arrested over the murder of a stroke victim and three serious sexual assaults has been quizzed under caution over the rape of two other patients and further sex attacks on seven staff.

The Blackpool Victoria Hospital employee - who is currently suspended - was voluntarily interviewed about the additional allegations by Lancashire Police yesterday.

He is currently on bail after being arrested in March on suspicion of the murder of Valerie Kneale, 75, from Blackpool and sexual assaults against two other patients and a healthcare professional."


NHS worker arrested for murder of patient, 75, and three sex attacks quizzed over further complaints | Daily Mail Online

Some of the charges/allegations are pretty horrific, how on earth was it allowed to carry on?

 

[Luwin]

This case was just featured on crimewatch live (bbc1) - hopefully it will prompt people to come forward with information, but worrying nothing has yet happened to those arrested!

 

[dotr]

March 7 2023 rbbm

Mum died after being sexually assaulted in hospital bed

Valerie Kneale was admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke but was later found dead

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk

''Valerie Kneale, 75, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 16, 2018 from a haemorrhage caused by a "non-medical related internal injury". A post-mortem examination concluded the vulnerable mum, who had been admitted to the hospital on November 12 after having a stroke and breaking her leg after falling from a chair, had suffered the injury due to a vaginal tear, believed to have been caused by a sex attack committed after she moved onto the hospital's stroke ward.

A male member of staff was arrested on suspicion of murder, two offences of rape and one offence of sexual assault, but was never charged.''

Reward of £20k offered in hunt for killer after woman murdered in hospital

Valerie Kneale was killed in what police believe was a 'horrific attack' at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

''A reward of £20,000 is being offered in the hunt for the killer of a woman who died in a 'horrific attack' at a hospital in Lancashire.

Valerie Kneale died on the stroke unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on November 16, 2018. The 75-year-old was receiving treatment as a patient, but police believe she died following an attack on the unit.

A murder probe was launched after a post-mortem revealed that Valerie died from a haemorrhage caused by a 'non-medical related internal injury'. Her killer has not yet been found.''

"We believe there are people who know what happened or have suspicions. Crimestoppers is here to help make all our communities safe by giving people a way to speak up about crime, completely anonymously.

"You can talk to us with no comeback. That means we never ask for or store any of your personal details.

"If you know something, even if you think it’s insignificant, what you know could make a positive difference. Please call our UK Contact Centre on freephone 0800 555 111, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week or use our website’s simple and secure anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.''

 

[Luwin]

She must have been petrified :-(

 

[LoveyG]

I have a question. If she was bleeding so much it caused her death, why was it not noted by her health care workers? Surely all that blood would have been seen and the source of it addressed before she bled out? Or was she plopped on the Stroke Ward and then left on her own? When I had a stroke, they woke me up every few hours to check on me. Frankly, it was annoying.

 

[hopesxcase]

I’m furious at this story thinking of her final moments. How has this individual managed to not be charged with so many offences?

 

[Luwin]

I have a question. If she was bleeding so much it caused her death, why was it not noted by her health care workers? Surely all that blood would have been seen and the source of it addressed before she bled out? Or was she plopped on the Stroke Ward and then left on her own? When I had a stroke, they woke me up every few hours to check on me. Frankly, it was annoying.

I assumed it was internal bleeding that was only identified once she was deceased

 

[LoveyG]

I assumed it was internal bleeding that was only identified once she was deceased

You're probably right. I thought the bleeding was from the vaginal tear found on autopsy.

 

[dotr]

March 8 2023

Reward offered to help catch killer of 75-year-old - four years after her death after attack in Blackpool hospital

Valerie Kneale had been a patient in a Blackpool hospital four years ago when she was "subjected to a horrific attack which ultimately led to her death". Despite a lengthy investigation, her killer is yet to be identified and police are now urging anyone with information to come forward.

news.sky.com

''A reward of £20,000 is being offered to help catch the killer of a woman who died after she was attacked while she was a patient in a Blackpool hospital.''

''A murder investigation by Lancashire Police was launched after a post-mortem examination found that she had died from a haemorrhage caused by a non-medical-related internal injury.''

In March 2021, a healthcare professional was arrested on suspicion of murder, rape and sexual assault, but was not charged.

More than four years after her death, the appeal by charity Crimestoppers aims to encourage anyone with information that may lead to the conviction of Ms Kneale's killer to come forward.''

''Detective Chief Inspector Jill Johnston said the force remains "fully committed" to the investigation and hopes that the monetary reward will help "provide that key piece of information to help unlock the case".

Imageic: Lancashire Police
Last year police said information related to other allegations of serious sexual assaults against two patients had also been received, as well as the sexual assault of a healthcare professional working on the stroke unit.''

Grandmother, 75, bled to death in hospital after sexual assault

After a post-mortem examination, it was discovered that Valerie Kneale, 75, had bled to death due to being assaulted, possibly sexually.

www.dailymail.co.uk