Woman charged over hospital deaths

A 51-year-old woman was today charged with three counts of murder following the death of three female patients in hospital, police said.

West Yorkshire Police said the arrest followed an investigation into the deaths of three women, aged 96, 75, and 67, at Airedale General Hospital, near Keighley.

The woman was also charged with the attempted murder of a 42-year-old man and with 13 charges of administering noxious substances to other patients.

She was bailed to appear before Bingley Magistrates Court on October 12.
A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "In relation to this investigation, three other people were arrested earlier this year, two women both aged 52 and one man aged 56.

"Files are being sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration. These three people are now on police bail."