Lucy Letby: Investigation into how former nurse could murder babies begins

An investigation will soon begin into how former nurse Lucy Letby was able to murder babies in a neonatal unit for two years.

Letby, 34, was sentenced to 15 life terms after being convicted in two separate trials of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of seven others.

The inquest, which begins on Tuesday and is being held at Liverpool Town Hall, will look into events in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby was a nurse between 2015 and 2016.

Advisers repeatedly raised concerns that Letby may have been behind a series of unexplained deaths before her arrest.

Tamlin Bolton, a senior associate solicitor at Switalskis, which represents the victims’ families, said: “The families Switalskis represents have experienced unimaginable heartache and misery. The facts and issues explored in this investigation are of great significance to each individual family whose baby or babies were killed or attacked by Letby.

“Their babies were born, abused and died in 2015 and 2016 and they have endured many years of anguish, but this inquest will be the first time they have heard evidence of how Letby was allowed to abuse as many as 18 babies before she was removed from the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“The facts and issues raised in this investigation should also be of great concern to every family who has used or will use NHS obstetric, neonatal or paediatric services, and to the wider public who need to have confidence in patient safety. For the families we represent, that confidence has been shattered.”

The inquiry is being led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, a senior professional judge.

The experiences of the parents of Letby’s victims are examined, as well as the behaviour of hospital staff, and it is assessed whether suspicions should have been raised earlier, whether Letby should have been suspended earlier and whether the police should have been called in sooner.

The inquiry will examine the wider NHS culture and consider the effectiveness of its management and governance structures. It is expected to take around four months, with a report due next year.

A group including some of the UK’s leading experts in neonatal care and statistics professors are calling on the government to postpone or change the terms of a public inquiry over concerns about the safety of the neonatal nurse’s convictions.

In a private letter to ministers, seen by the Guardian, the 24 experts said they were concerned that the limited scope of the inquiry could prevent lessons being learned from “possible negligence in deaths believed to be murders” at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Over the weekend, lawyers said the reports questioning Letby’s convictions were distressing for the victims’ families. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Bolton said: “I can’t stress enough how distressing that has been for all the families I represent.”

One of the medical witnesses in the case also reported being attacked by a member of the public who held “pro-Letby views”, the Sunday Times reported.

Cheshire Police said: “We can confirm that we are aware of an assault involving one of the witnesses from the Lucy Letby case and an investigation into the incident is underway.”