Lucy Letby’s ‘Anger’ at Tea Party Left Colleagues Uneasy Before Return

Colleagues at the Countess of Chester Hospital were left deeply unsettled by Lucy Letby’s apparent ‘anger’ when she revisited the neonatal unit for a tea party, according to revelations during an ongoing inquiry.

Letby, who had been reassigned to clerical duties in July 2016 following a series of unexplained infant deaths and collapses in the neonatal ward, returned to the unit in February 2017 prior to her anticipated return to clinical work. Despite being barred from nursing duties, Letby managed to attend a ‘welcome back’ tea party, with senior staff aware of her presence, as revealed by the Thirlwall Inquiry.

Rachel Langdale KC, representing the inquiry, disclosed: “It appears that Letby had visited… unsupervised on one occasion in the last week of February 2017 with the knowledge of at least Alison Kelly, Susan Hodkinson, and Karen Rees. Letby attended a ‘tea party’ on the unit with Nurse Z, which Yvonne Griffiths, deputy unit manager, explained to staff was to welcome Letby back onto the unit.”

Jean Peers, a nursery nurse who attended the event, recalled efforts to create a ‘relaxed’ atmosphere but described Letby as ‘angry.’ Peers stated, “I was on [at] the weekend and so was Yvonne Griffiths, she said that Letby was coming with Nurse Z and that we would do a tea party to welcome her,” reports the Mirror.

“We did cakes and tea, and she came in and we were all talking, and she did not say a word to us. Yvonne and I were talking a lot to make it nice and relaxed and when she went, we both said, ‘oh my God, she is going to make it hard for us when she returns as she seems angry.'”

In April 2017, Letby was informed that her return to the neonatal unit had been postponed indefinitely, and she was advised not to visit again.

Lucy Letby was arrested at her Chester home in July 2018. She stood trial at Manchester Crown Court and was convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others over an eight-month trial.

In July 2024, a four-week retrial led to her further conviction for the attempted murder of another infant, known as Child K. Letby is now serving 15 whole life sentences.

The Thirlwall Inquiry, led by Lady Justice Kathryn Thirlwall, has faced delays due to the retrial and Letby’s unsuccessful appeal against her convictions following nine months of court proceedings. Currently being held at Liverpool Town Hall, the inquiry aims to uncover how Letby was able to carry out these murders and attempted murders over an extended period.

Investigators are focusing on three main areas from 2015 to 2016: the experiences of the bereaved parents, the conduct of Countess of Chester Hospital staff during Letby’s tenure as a neonatal nurse, and the response of NHS management. The inquiry remains ongoing.