A MAN has been charged with murder following the death of his father in hospital, The Northern Echo can reveal.

The 45-year-old man, from Stanley, County Durham, was arrested after Ralph Stephenson, 86, died in University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, on Thursday, June 11.

Hospital staff raised concerns over Mr Stephenson’s death with their managers, which led to the police being informed.

A post-mortem examination was conducted by Home Office pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton, which resulted in the death being treated as suspicious.

Detectives took statements from hospital staff at the weekend.

On Monday morning, they visited a home on Tyne East Road, in Stanley, and arrested the 45-year-old occupant on suspicion of murder.

He was questioned at Durham City police office and charged with murder this afternoon.

Mr Stephenson was admitted to hospital on Thursday, May 21, from a nursing home in Stanley, suffering from a number of medical problems including Parkinson's disease and pneumonia.

His home address was in the Craghead area of Stanley. As well as his son, he also leaves a wife.

Bob Aitken, medical director of the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Nursing staff at University Hospital of North Durham contacted the police because of concerns they had about the death of an elderly patient on a ward at the hospital.

"This is a very distressing incident for our patients and for our staff.

"We would like to reassure the community at this time that there is no risk to any other patient at the hospital in relation to this incident.

"Our staff are assisting police with their investigations and will continue to do so."