Nurse jailed for trying to kill patients
Ward sister Barbara Salisbury, 48, was found guilty of the attempted murders of 88-year-old May Taylor and 92-year-old Frank Owen at Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Cheshire.
The jury at Chester Crown Court delivered the verdicts following a trial that lasted more than six weeks. It acquitted her of the attempted murder of two other elderly patients.
Salisbury, from Pontybodkin, north Wales, had recently taken charge of the hospital's Ward 4 when she tried to kill the pair in March 2002.
She lied to doctors that stroke victim Mrs Taylor was in pain so they would prescribe her diamorphine, a painkiller that can hasten death in the seriously ill.
When other nurses refused to administer the drug because Mrs Taylor appeared comfortable, Salisbury snapped: "Why prolong the inevitable?" and did it herself. Mrs Taylor died two days later.
When Frank Owen arrived at the ward in January 2002 he was suffering dementia and a suspected stroke. He refused to drink fluids but Salisbury grew angry when other nurses arranged for a drip to keep him hydrated.
She returned from a period of sick leave in March and was furious to find Mr Owen still on her ward, telling junior nurses: "Lie him flat. With any luck his lungs will fill with fluid and he'll die."
Mr Owen was conscious during the exchange and other nurses feared he may have heard the remark.
Salisbury later used a ploy similar to that she used against May Taylor, lying to doctors that Mr Owen was in pain and giving him two shots of diamorphine in the space of four hours.
He died a short time later and when a nurse asked if Mr Owen had died, Salisbury told her: "Yes, thanks to me."
She was suspended and Cheshire Police called in after other nurses who previously felt too junior to question the actions of their "intimidating" sister reported her behaviour.
Sentencing her to five years imprisonment for each count, to run concurrently, Mr Justice Pitchford told Salisbury she had abused her duty of care.
He said: "Your duty and your trust was one of care towards your patients and, under the direction of the doctors, the respect for and preservation of human life.
"The jury has found that in the case of two elderly patients who were nearing their end, you broke that duty and abused that trust by attempting to hasten their death."
He added that Salisbury's conduct was "callous and unprofessional" and had left some of her nursing colleagues "traumatised".
Salisbury, who was treated in hospital for depression after the allegations were made, expressed no emotion as sentence was passed. She had earlier sobbed with relief when the not guilty verdicts were announced.
Speaking outside court, May Taylor's grandaughter Alison Williams said: "The past two years have put my mum and our family through a lot of heartache, torment and stress and today Nan can finally rest in peace, knowing that justice has been done."
Detective Superintendent Adrian Wright said Salisbury was "cool and collected" during interviews.
He said the original investigation involved more allegations than those brought before the court.
However, he was satisfied there were no more victims to come light.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
