A PATIENT at a psychiatric hospital in Bradford has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the sudden death of a fellow patient.

Linda Goswell, 52, was found dead at the privately-run Cygnet Hospital in Bierley.

Police were called in and murder squad detectives started an investigation.

A post-mortem examination failed to provide a conclusive cause for the death of Miss Goswell, of Halifax, and further tests are under way.

A 48-year-old female patient was arrested and has been bailed pending further inquiries.

West Yorkshire Police was alerted to the sudden death at the hospital's Bierley Lane site at 6.16am on Saturday.

Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, of West Yorkshire Police's Protective Services (Crime) Department, said yesterday: "Police were called to Bierley Lane, Bradford, following the discovery of a woman's body.

"A 48-year-old woman was arrested at the scene in connection with the death and has been bailed pending further inquiries."

He added: "A post-mortem was carried out and further tests are awaited to confirm a cause of death. We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."

Police were unable to comment on suggestions that the victim had died from strangulation.

A spokesman for Cygnet Health Care, which runs the hospital, said: "I can confirm that the police were called to the hospital on Saturday morning following the death of a patient.

"Another patient has subsequently been arrested. We are working closely with the police and other authorities and while investigations are under way it would not be appropriate to comment further. Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased at this tragic time."

Cygnet Health Care, was served a warning notice by the watchdog Care Quality Commission, following an inspection in September last year which found the hospital had failed to meet four of five national standards.

The unannounced inspection identified concerns about safeguarding patients from abuse; records; management of medicines; and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision. But the hospital met the standard set for the care and welfare of patients.

A follow up inspection, also unannounced, in April this year, found the hospital met the standard on safeguarding patients from abuse, and on records, but action was still needed in the other two categories. The company has now submitted a further action plan.

The inspection report said that two patients on the Bowling Ward said the hospital had improved and they felt "safe," but though improvements had been made since the last inspection, the provider "did not have an effective system in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service".

The report said the hospital manager had told inspectors it would be installing CCTV in the communal areas as a method to ensure patients' safety.

A spokesman for the CQC said yesterday: ""We are aware of the sad death of an inpatient at Cygnet Hospital, Bierley, and that the matter is currently subject to investigation by the police.

"We are unable to comment further as the investigation is ongoing, however, we are in close liaison with the registered provider, local authority, and West Yorkshire Police.”