I've followed this case quite closely since it was first reported when the inquest first opened in 2019.
When it was finally discovered that Valerie Kneale had been sexually assaulted in such a violent way that it caused the internal bleeding that led to her death, an investigation began and a male member of staff was arrested, questioned and then bailed pending further enquiries. Each time the bail period ended, it was extended again for a further few months.
During this period, female hospital staff came forward and complained about a male member of staff who had been inappropriate in several different ways. In total, the bail period went on for about 18 months and then there was no further reporting on the case. I am thus assuming, that despite their best efforts (and we'll have to give them the benefit of the doubt on this!) police couldn't find enough evidence to charge anyone.
The male member of staff who was bailed was also suspended during his extended bail period, but may well be back working at the hospital. After reading about the case again yesterday, it's clear that by the time investigations began, vital evidence had been either lost or compromised.
I've often used this case in my arguments with various people about the complete folly of allowing trans identifying men to be placed on female hospital wards. I'm not suggesting that the perpetrator in this case was trans, but it was very likely a man, which further underlines the fact that women, especially when at their most vulnerable, should not be subjected to any greater level of risk than is absolutely necessary.
Writing this, I'm wondering if the police are taking special note of what is being said and by whom at the inquest. Maybe they are hoping that someone's recollections of the period that Valerie was in the stroke ward might shed some further light on what really happened. (This incidently, was the ward where nurses were convicted of doping stroke patients to lessen their workload, so it's clear that there was a huge degree of negligence at that time).
Whatever the findings of the inquest or the coroner's verdict, I don't think that this case can be allowed to disappear from the public realm again. If everyone posting on this board e-mailed Wes Streeting and demanded a public inquiry into the mismanagement that was obviously rife on the stroke ward in Blackpool hospital, it might prompt him to do something about it and it will certainly help strengthen the argument that all hospital wards must be strictly single sex, except for intensive care. I shall write and send my e-mail today.