Hospital PR boss 'stabbed to death by husband who then killed himself'

Yvonne Davies was reportedly found dead from stab wounds at the house in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport

Police believe Yvonne Davies’ husband stabbed her to death before hanging himself

An award-winning NHS public relations executive was stabbed to death at home by her husband who then killed himself, police believe.

Yvonne Davies, 46, the head of communications for Manchester hospitals, was reportedly found dead from stab wounds at the house in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, that she shared with husband Andrew and their young daughter. Mr Davies, 45, a postman, was found hanged, reported the Manchester Evening News.

NHS officials said the alarm was raised on Friday when Mrs Davies failed to show up for work at the Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust. Neighbours said a man broke into the house with a hammer and made the grim discovery. Police arrived within minutes.

Police said they were not looking for anybody else over the killings but stepped up patrols anyway because of concerns in the community.

Neighbours said they had seen the couple on Friday. A woman who lived nearby said: “They were just a really, nice normal couple. My son saw them on Friday morning and everything seemed fine. They were quiet but friendly. It’s just so, so sad. I feel so sorry for the little one.”

Mrs Davies, who was also a magistrate, was named as the best communications chief in the country in 2011. Judges cited her work overseeing the filming of a series of documentaries based on Greater Manchester Children’s Hospital. She was also commended for her work about a surge in the use of the casualty department by drunken women following concerts by Take That.

The trust’s website showed that members of both Manchester premier league clubs were regular visitors to the hospitals in the group. Mrs Davies’ profile photo on her LinkedIn page showed her with the Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff.

At the time of the award, trust chairman Peter Mount spoke glowingly of Mrs Davies’ 21 years at the hospital. “She is a dedicated trust staff member and a leader in the field of NHS communications. She never seems to get fazed by anything we throw at her,” he said.

Det Supt Emily Higham, of Greater Manchester police, said: “We do not believe there is any third party involvement.”