Lucy Letby hospital investigated for corporate manslaughter over baby deaths
Police investigating Countess of Chester Hospital following Letby’s murder convictions
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The hospital where nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering babies is being investigated by police for corporate manslaughter.
Cheshire Constabulary said the force is conducting a corporate manslaughter investigation at the Countess of Chester Hospital following Letby’s convictions.
Letby, 33, was sentenced in August to a rare whole-life order for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the hospital’s neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016, making her one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers of children.
Police said the investigation into the Countess of Chester will focus on the time period of Letby’s crimes there, considering areas such as senior leadership and decision-making “to determine whether any criminality has taken place”. The force added, “At this stage, we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.”
Announcing the corporate manslaughter investigation on Wednesday, Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell, said: “The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to go into any further details or answer specific questions at this time.
“We recognise that this investigation will have a significant impact on a number of different stakeholders including the families in this case and we are continuing to work alongside and support them during this process.”
The families of her victims welcomed the “significant” news.
Tamlin Bolton, a lawyer at Switalskis law firm who is representing the families of seven babies said: “We are reassured that some steps are now being taken to consider the actions of management from a criminal perspective. It will be for the CPS and the Police to determine now if the conduct of the senior management at the Countess of Chester Hospital fell so far below what could reasonably have been expected of them, that their actions caused or contributed to the deaths of those seven children.
“While the news is welcomed, this announcement brings with it fresh anguish for the families as they wait for the conclusion of these further criminal investigations.”
Parents of twin babies who Letby was found guilty of harming added anyone who “aided” Letby “need to be brought to justice”.
Following the verdicts, families of Letby’s victims expressed their “extreme hurt, anger and distress”. Janet Moore, a family liaison coordinator at Cheshire Constabulary, read out a joint statement on behalf of the families at the time, which said: “We are heartbroken, devastated, angry and feel numb. We may never truly know why this happened.”
Letby, from Hereford, denied all the offences and formally lodged an appeal against her conviction at the Court of Appeal last month.
She is facing a further trial over one count of attempted murder related to a baby girl, known as Child K, in February 2016. A provisional date for the retrial, which is expected to last between two and three weeks at Manchester Crown Court, has been set for 10 June next year.
An independent inquiry has also been announced by the Department of Health, which will examine “the circumstances surrounding the deaths and incidents, including how concerns raised by clinicians were dealt with”.
Jane Tomkinson OBE, Acting Chief Executive Officer at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We were deeply saddened and appalled at Lucy Letby’s crimes when the verdicts were delivered.
“Following the trial, we have always maintained we will be supporting the ongoing investigation by Cheshire Police and will be cooperating fully with the investigation announced today so that we can help get the answers that the families and babies affected by this case rightly deserve.
“Cheshire Police have given us their assurance that they are providing ongoing support to the families, who remain at the forefront of our thoughts and efforts to support this investigation.
“It would not be appropriate for the Trust to make any further comment at this time.”
Tony Chambers, former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, when Letby committed her crimes, said: “I am truly sorry for what all the families have gone through, and I intend to co-operate fully and openly with the police investigation.
“I am deeply saddened by what has come to light during this trial and the crimes that have been committed are appalling and my thoughts are with the children at the heart of this case and their families and loved ones.”