THREE young patients, including a woman from Lymm, at the Walton Centre hospital in Liverpool died in the space of 48 hours after being given the same anaesthetic drug that killed pop star Michael Jackson.

Former Lymm High pupil Susan Chiverton died days before she was due to go on a dream trip teaching English in China for a year.

The 22-year-old, of Crossfield Avenue, was struck by a green Kawasaki 600cc motorbike alongside her younger sister as they crossed the road at Brick Street, near to the Cockhedge Centre in the town centre, in 2010.

Susie suffered serious head and chest injuries and died at Walton Hospital on June 7, four days after the incident.

Bootle teenager Neil Murphy, aged 18, suffered massive head injuries following an attack and died on June 9, 2010 in the neurology unit on the same day Christopher Garwell, aged 23, from Deeside, also died at the Walton Centre following a head injury he suffered during an attack in Chester.

Mr Murphy's family are now calling for a new investigation and believe their loved one would still be alive today if he had been given a smaller dose of the anaesthetic propofol.

All three patients had been given the drug at the Walton Centre and, according to a Cheshire Police spokesman, propofol infusion syndrome was listed as part of the cause of death in each case.

Cheshire Police launched an investigation into these three deaths, but no arrests were made and the force found 'nothing to suggest any negligence or wrongdoing by staff'.

Medical negligence lawyer Catherine Cantillon, from Slater and Gordon, said: “Our expert was of the opinion that, had it not been for the increased doses of propofol used in Mr Murphy’s case, he would have survived his head injury.

"I would like to see that the trust could now offer assurances that more stringent procedures are in place in relation to the use of propofol.”

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “A review was carried out into the three deaths at the Walton Centre by Cheshire Police, along with a report by an independent medical expert.

“There was nothing to suggest any negligence or wrongdoing by staff at the Walton Centre.

“On the contrary, it was the trust that alerted the coroner to these deaths.

“These were disclosed to the three criminal cases.”

The Walton Centre said: “Mr Murphy was admitted to the trust having sustained a very severe brain injury as a result of an assault.

“Administration of propofol is a recognised treatment given routinely in these circumstances.

“Propofol infusion syndrome is a rare but recognised complication of such treatment.

“A payment has been made to Mr Murphy’s family by the trust without admission of liability. This acknowledges the potential contribution of propofol infusion syndrome in relation to Mr Murphy’s death.”