Health staff suspended in Viagra inquiry

Viagra was originally developed to fight heart attacks

Three women who work for a Cumbria health trust have been suspended over allegations surrounding the anti-impotence drug Viagra.

The North Cumbria Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Trust, says the woman are all from the Whitehaven area.

A spokeswoman for the trust said the police had not yet been called, but that the allegations were "of a serious nature".

She said: "Three members of staff have been suspended following a serious allegation about the supply of prescription drugs.

Personally prescribed

"The staff involved are all female and from the Whitehaven area."

The spokeswoman would not say whether the staff worked in a hospital or were based in the community.

She added: "An internal investigation has begun and as yet the police are not involved."

The spokeswoman warned that people should only take drugs which have been personally prescribed for them.

More than 20 million men worldwide are thought to have used Viagra.

When Viagra was introduced in 1999, the drug's manufacturers warned of a number of possible side effects, including possible nerve damage to the eyes.

It was originally developed to combat heart attacks and strokes.