Lucy Letby: Government orders independent inquiry

Letby killed the babies at a Chester hospital in 2015 and 2016

The government has ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind serial killer Lucy Letby's "horrific" baby murders.

The Department of Health said it would look at how clinicians' concerns were handled, as a BBC investigation found hospital bosses ignored doctors' warnings about Letby.

Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies at a hospital in Chester.

She was also found guilty of attempting to murder another six babies.

On two counts of attempted murder, she was found not guilty. The jury could not reach verdicts on six counts of attempted murder.

Detectives are reviewing the care of all babies admitted to hospital while Letby was working as a neonatal nurse. The review includes her work placements at Liverpool Women's Hospital in 2012 and 2015, although police say this did not involve any deaths.

Detective superintendent Paul Hughes said: "We would be foolish if we were to think we have gathered all cases that Lucy Letby could have touched in one go.

"So we are committed to doing an overarching investigation looking at every single baby's admission into neonatal unit for the entire footprint that Lucy Letby has been employed."

Cheshire Police stressed that only cases highlighted as medically concerning would be further investigated.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health said the independent inquiry aimed to provide answers to the parents of babies she murdered or attempted to murder, and make sure lessons are learnt.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: "I am determined their voices are heard, and they are involved in shaping the scope of the inquiry should they wish to do so.

"It will help us identify where and how patient safety standards failed to be met and ensure mothers and their partners rightly have faith in our healthcare system."

Baby serial killer Lucy Letby

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The inquiry will not have the power to summon evidence or witnesses, as it is not a statutory inquiry, such as the UK Covid-19 Inquiry.

Health Minister Helen Whately said this meant it could be conducted "at pace", adding that there were "definitely" questions to be answered around doctors repeatedly raising concerns about Letby.

But City of Chester MP Samantha Dixon has written to the health secretary asking why the government has skipped a statutory inquiry.

And former Crown Prosecution Service chief in north-west England Nazir Afzal, who prosecuted nurse Victorino Chua found guilty of murdering patients in Stockport in 2015, described the decision as "hugely disappointing".

"You have to compel people... I really don't think a non-traditional inquiry has the powers to hold people to account, which is important here," he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme. "It's not just a fact-finding [mission] which is what I think this inquiry will do, people need to be held to account for their failures."

Lord Bichard, who chaired the inquiry into the Soham murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by Ian Huntley, said he was surprised the government did not take advantage of the powers of a statutory inquiry.

"Too many inquiries take too long to make a conclusion and make too many recommendations and don't follow them up," he added. "It's really, really important we start making better use of inquiries in this country and that we follow up their conclusions."

In a statement following the verdict, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it was "extremely sorry" the crimes happened in its hospital and it has since made "significant changes" to their services.

Meanwhile, former chief executive of the hospital Tony Chambers and former medical director Ian Harvey, who were in charge at the time Letby was working at Countess of Chester Hospital, have said they will co-operate fully with the inquiry into the case.

A lead consultant at the neonatal unit where Letby worked told the BBC hospital bosses failed to investigate allegations and tried to silence doctors.

Dr Stephen Brearey first raised concerns about Letby in October 2015. No action was taken and she went on to attack five more babies, killing two.

The hospital also delayed calling the police despite months of warnings that the nurse may have been killing babies.

Letby, 33, was not in the dock when the final verdicts were given at Manchester Crown Court on Friday. She will be sentenced on Monday.

If you, or someone you know, have been affected by the issues raised here, there are details of organisations that may be able to offer support on the BBC Action Line.