Letby concerns were 'shut down' - ex-police chief

Letby was moved to clerical duties after the deaths of two triplet boys on successive days

Hospital bosses "shut down" concerns from senior doctors that Lucy Letby might be murdering babies on a neonatal unit, a retired police chief has told a public inquiry.

Former Det Ch Supt Nigel Wenham praised consultant paediatricians at the Countess of Chester Hospital for speaking out about the serial killer nurse.

Letby was moved to clerical duties in July 2016 after the deaths of two triplet boys on successive days.

Cheshire Police were not called in by the hospital until May 2017, and there were plans shortly beforehand to return Letby to the unit.

The public inquiry, chaired by High Court judge Lady Justice Thirlwall, is examining the circumstances surrounding Letby's crimes.

Mr Wenham, who worked on the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), said he was not aware until March 2017 of the increase in the number of infant deaths on the unit in the previous two years.

He attended a CDOP meeting at the hospital with paediatricians and executives in late April 2017 in which the concerns were outlined, the inquiry was told.

'Powerful meeting'

Consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram was noted to have stated in that meeting: "Particular nurse moved off nights[...] and then no incidents on nights."

However, medical director Ian Harvey was noted to have said: "Nurse full time, overtime, allocated sick and poorly babies" and "very hot unit, staff working under pressure".

Counsel to the inquiry, Rachel Langdale KC, asked: "What was the impression you got from that meeting, did you appreciate the width of opinions?"

Mr Wenham said: "Maybe the executive team were a bit more satisfied things were being managed, whereas some of the doctors present were clearly concerned."

The inquiry heard that Mr Wenham felt executives were "attempting to shut doors on the investigation as it was being considered".

He recalled a "powerful meeting" with consultants Dr Jayaram, Dr Stephen Brearey and Dr Susie Holt on 15 May 2017.

"They had some degree of frustration in the way they felt this situation had been reached," he said.

"A lot of the doctors involved did raise concerns repeatedly but, sadly, they were shut down."

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, sitting at Liverpool Town Hall, is expected to hear evidence until early next year, with the findings published by the following autumn.