Key facts
- Hospital managers could have prevented Lucy Letby from killing more babies if they had acted sooner on concerns, an inquiry found.
- The inquiry found a "complete failure" to protect babies on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital.
- Three babies may have survived and seven others could have been protected if action had been taken sooner.
- Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life prison terms for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of seven others.
- The inquiry chair recommended 24-hour cameras on every cot in neonatal units and beefed-up oversight from the Care Quality Commission.
A public inquiry led by Lady Justice Thirlwall has concluded that hospital managers could have prevented nurse Lucy Letby from killing more babies if they had acted sooner on concerns raised about her. The inquiry, focused on events at the Countess of Chester hospital, found a "complete failure" to protect infants on the neonatal unit.
According to the report, three babies may have survived and seven others could have been protected if hospital bosses had taken action over concerns about Letby. Two newborn twins would not have died and five others would not have been harmed if Letby had been removed from the unit sooner. A third baby and two others who suffered unexplained collapses might also have been protected if an earlier insulin poisoning had been detected, the report stated. One of these infants suffered a lifelong brain injury.
Letby, 36, is serving 15 whole-life prison terms after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016. She maintains her innocence and is fighting to overturn her convictions. The inquiry was conducted on the basis of Letby being found guilty of the offences for which she was convicted.