Lucy Letby: Inquiry to be held into ‘Angel of Death’ nurse who murdered infants
T
he government has ordered an unbiased inquiry after nurse Lucy Letby was discovered responsible of the homicide of seven infants and trying to kill six others within the neonatal unit on the Countess of Chester Hospital.
The Department of Health mentioned the inquiry would examine the “wider circumstances around what happened at the Countess of Chester Hospital”, together with how issues raised by clinicians over Letby have been handled.
The inquiry will even take a look at what actions have been taken by regulators and the broader NHS, with a give attention to “lessons that can be learned quickly”.
Victims’ households will probably be invited to “engage with and shape the inquiry”, the Department mentioned, to “ensure their views are heard throughout the process”.
The convictions make Letby the worst baby serial killer in trendy British historical past.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay mentioned: “I would like to send my deepest sympathy to all the parents and families impacted by this horrendous case.
“This inquiry will seek to ensure the parents and families impacted get the answers they need. I am determined their voices are heard, and they are involved in shaping the scope of the inquiry should they wish to do so.
“Following on from the work already underway by NHS England, it will help us identify where and how patient safety standards failed to be met and ensure mothers and their partners rightly have faith in our healthcare system.”
A chair for the inquiry will probably be appointed in the end, the Government mentioned.
Tony Chambers, former chief government of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, mentioned he would co-operate absolutely with the inquiry.
He mentioned: “The crimes that have been committed are appalling and I am deeply saddened by what has come to light.
“As chief executive, my focus was on the safety of the baby unit and the wellbeing of patients and staff. I was open and inclusive as I responded to information and guidance.
“The trial, and the lengthy police investigation, have shown the complex nature of the issues raised.
“There are always lessons to be learnt and the best place for this to be achieved would be through the independent inquiry.
“I will co-operate fully and openly with the independent inquiry which has now been ordered by the Government.”
In 2015 and 2016, there was a major rise within the numbers of infants who suffered critical and sudden collapses within the neonatal unit on the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Letby was the one member of the nursing and scientific employees who was on obligation every time the collapses occurred, which the Crown argued weren’t pure occasions.
Some of the youngsters have been subjected to repeated makes an attempt to kill them by the “cold, cruel and relentless” band 5 employees nurse, the trial – which started at Manchester Crown Court final October – heard.
Letby’s presence when collapses befell was first talked about to senior administration by the unit’s head marketing consultant in late June 2015.
Concerns amongst some consultants concerning the defendant elevated and have been voiced to hospital bosses when extra unexplained and weird collapses adopted, the court docket heard.
Prosecutor Nick Johnson KC mentioned consultants on the neo-natal unit observed the sharp rise in deaths and went searching for a trigger.
“Their concern was that babies who were dying had deteriorated unexpectedly. Not only that, but when babies collapsed they did not respond to appropriate and timely resuscitation”, he mentioned.
“Some other babies who did not die collapsed dramatically but then recovered – their collapses and recoveries defied the normal experience of the treating doctors.”
He mentioned they discovered “one common denominator” – Letby – who was a “constant malevolent presence when things took a turn for the worse”.
Letby was not faraway from the unit till after the deaths of two triplet boys and the collapse of one other child boy on three successive days in June 2016.
A jury discovered Letby responsible of seven counts of homicide and 6 costs of tried homicide. Jurors have been undecided on an additional six costs of tried homicide, and he or she was cleared of 1 cost of tried homicide.