Lucy Letby Could Have Accessed Baby Death Reports After Removal From Neonatal Unit, Inquiry Reveals
Lucy Letby, the former nurse convicted of murdering seven babies, may have had access to patient notes and reports on infant deaths even after being removed from her neonatal unit position due to suspicions she was deliberately harming infants, according to evidence presented at a public inquiry, according to BBC.
The inquiry, known as the Thirlwall Inquiry, heard that in 2015 and 2016, consultants at the Countess of Chester Hospital raised concerns about Letby’s involvement in a series of unexplained infant deaths and collapses. Hospital executives acted on their concerns after the deaths of two previously stable triplet boys in June 2016, which prompted them to order an independent review and remove Letby from the neonatal unit.
Despite her removal, Letby was reassigned to a clerical role in the hospital’s risk and patient safety office just one month later. This new position potentially allowed her access to sensitive patient information, sparking further concerns about her proximity to such reports.
Annemarie Lawrence, a former colleague of Letby, testified that she found Letby’s placement in the safety office “not appropriate.” Lawrence recalled that Letby initially worked in the complaints department in an adjoining office but would frequently enter their room to make teas and coffees. Lawrence expressed discomfort over Letby’s involvement in office activities, especially following a specific incident.
In autumn 2016, Lawrence reported Letby to a nursing supervisor after a disturbing encounter. She recalled, “I was coming into work one morning and as I came up the stairs Lucy came out of her office on the corridor to greet me, and she was very distressed.” Letby’s apparent knowledge of a baby’s collapse before Lawrence, who worked closely with patient safety, raised red flags.
The inquiry into Letby’s actions and the hospital’s handling of suspicions continues to shed light on the lapses in oversight that may have allowed her access to critical information despite growing concerns about her behavior. Letby’s crimes have shaken the hospital and led to ongoing scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the infants she was charged with caring for.
The Thirlwall Inquiry aims to provide a full account of the events that enabled Letby to continue working in a hospital environment during such a critical time.