Letby 'distressed' by 'murderer' remarks - inquiry

Lucy Letby was a neonatal nurse at the Countess of Chester Hospital

Lucy Letby asked for an occupational health meeting because she was "distressed" on the anniversary of the death of a baby she she was later convicted of murdering, an inquiry has heard.

She said during the July 2017 meeting that she was "hurt" at being described by doctors as "the angel of death" and a "murderer", the Thirlwall Inquiry was told.

The hearing at Liverpool's town hall was also told that she had exchanged hundreds of Whatsapp messages with an occupational health manager after she was removed from the Countess of Chester's neonatal unit in July 2016.

The manager, Kathryn de Beger, told the inquiry: "I felt at the time that I was the only support that Lucy Letby had."

'Blame myself'

Some of the messages were shown at the inquiry, which is examining how Letby was able to murder and attack babies at the hospital in 2015 and 2016.

Ms de Beger said she provided mental health support while the nurse was suspended from duty.

She said she had gone "above and beyond" to look after Letby, including by staying in touch with her outside of work hours.

They exchanged more than 750 messages over a period of 15 months, covering topics including shopping, cooking and family matters.

Many of the text messages ended with a kiss.

Ms de Beger said: "I was given that role by the trust to support her mental wellbeing during what I thought at the time was a very distressing situation.

“I thought that fell just on me, and so I did it to the best of my ability, and that’s why there were so many messages."

She said the messages were about "normal things" in order to keep Letby grounded.

'Support'

Ms de Beger also emailed Letby while she was suspended to tell her she should feel reassured that hospital executives supported her wish to return to the neonatal unit.

Letby replied: "I feel as though this must be my fault and maybe I’ve done something wrong to the babies - and blame myself - do you think that’s normal?"

Ms de Beger said she had regular occupational health sessions with Letby, and on one occasion the nurse brought her parents along.

There was a family row during the meeting, which centred around how Letby should deal with the process of being removed from duty.

The inquiry, also heard how chief executive Tony Chambers had wanted to "draw a line under the 'Lucy issue'" at the occupational health meeting.

It had been said that two independent reviews had found no evidence of deliberate harm, and a grievance that Letby lodged over her removal had been upheld.

Letby has been sentenced to 15 whole life terms for murdering and attempting to murder babies

Dr Sean Tighe, a consultant anaesthetist, was asked to attend as a witness in his role as union representative for the doctors at the meeting.

He and the others present heard Letby state that her "life was turned upside down and subsequently put on hold" when she found out she was being removed from the unit in July 2016.

She added: "There has been a huge element of dishonesty throughout this process and I want to ensure that you all hear my perspective and are aware of the impact your actions have had on me.

"I appreciate that we all have a right to raise concerns and that the protection of our vulnerable patient group, is, of course, of paramount importance.

"However, I find it extremely unprofessional and hurtful to have been made aware of such unsubstantiated insensitive comments, as listed below, often via 'word of mouth'.

Dr Tighe told the inquiry: "We had been told that the meeting was to explore the reports, the contents of the reports, and to explore the possibility of Ms Letby returning to work, not to hear a 20-minute melodramatic dissertation from Ms Letby herself."

He said the consultants responded by "completely denying" they had made any derogatory remarks, which Mr Chambers demanded they apologise for.

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.

The inquiry is expected to sit at Liverpool Town Hall until early next year, with findings published by late autumn 2025.