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Washington Bureau Chief
Lucy Letby was nicknamed “nurse death” by junior doctors after she was removed from duties on the neo-natal ward at Countess of Chester Hospital, a public inquiry has heard today.
But despite the staff concerns and references to the convicted murder, hospital bosses still did not act to contact police on the matter.
The child serial killer was sentenced to 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others on the ward in 2015 and 2016.
In September 2016 - two months after Letby was switched to clerical work - the Royal Collage of Paediatrics and Child Health was invited to carry out a review at the hospital, although not all members of the team were aware of the nurse before the visit.
However, notes of the team’s initial interview with former medical director Ian Harvey recorded him highlighting Letby.
The notes, read out at today’s inquiry, recorded Mr Harvey as saying: “Had to intervene with the neonatal lead as junior doctors had been referring to her as ‘nurse death’.
“Ripples through the team..... can’t see how to conclude without calling the police.”
The trust did not formally contact police until May 2017.
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‘Elephant in the room’ - former chief executive to Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
The guide on invited reviews provides that the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health would not take on reviews where “the expected scope includes behavioural, misconduct, bullying, harassment or possible mental health concerns,” said Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC.
However, the concerns dominated the first interview with former medical director Ian Harvey, who is recorded as saying: “Correlation of one nurse – paediatricians see as elephant in the room. Lucy Letby. Pattern of babies collapse doesn’t seem to follow normal pattern and respond to resuscitation in normal way. Multifactorial. Want to think the worst – but nothing else is pointing to it.”
Alexander Butler11 September 2024 20:00
Lucy Letby ‘hid in plain sight’ like GP killer Harold Shipman, inquiry hears
Serial killerLucy Letbyhas been compared toHarold Shipman at a public inquiry opened up into the circ*mstancesaround thenurse’smurders.
The ThirwallInquiry, which began on Monday, is looking into the events surrounding the crimes ofLucy Letby, including the failures of the hospital staff and leadership to respond to concerns raised.
The inquiry’s opening cameamid growing speculationover the evidence used to convict Letby over the killings at Chester Countess Hospital last year. Chairwoman Lady Justice Thirwall started the hearing by stating it had caused “an enormous amount of stress” for the families of victims.
Lucy Letby ‘hid in plain sight’ like GP killer Harold Shipman, inquiry hears
On the opening day of a public inquiry into Lucy Letby’s murders, the killer is compared to other ‘manipulative’ convicts like Harold Shipman and Beverly Allitt
Alexander Butler11 September 2024 19:00
‘Not the slightest inkling or suspicion that anyone had deliberately harmed the children’ - coroner
We’re coming to the end of today’s evidence.
Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC tells the inquiry about evidence from Nicholas Rheinberg who was, at the time, the Senior Coroner for Cheshire. He retired in March 2017.
He has expresssed his surprise that the concerns over the death of the children from the consultants were not shared with him.
He also says that at two meetings with medical director Ian Harvey in February 2017, he was not made aware of suspicions or concerns relating to the involvement of a nurse in relation to any deaths.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 17:05
Hospital’s former medical director believed police investigation would ‘allow us to close down the speculation here'
We’ve already heard how there were apparent concerns from NHS England that the hospital’s former medical director, Ian Harvey, was avoiding contacting police.
When it was confirmed that police would investigate, Mr Harvey believed that their enquiries would “close down speculation” about Letby, Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC tells the inquiry.
He says Mr Harvey said police had been sent a letter by consultants which was “very prejudiced”, “effectively pointing the finger at one nurse”.
On 15 May 2017, Cheshire Plice decided there were sufficient grounds to suspect a criminal offence and to launch a criminal investigation.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 16:35
Letby called ‘angel of death’ in police meeting
We’re now hearing details from a meeting of police and executives at the Countess of Chester on April 27 in 2017.
By this point it was agreed that the matter had to be passed to police and days later Detective Chief Superintendent Wenham told officers that a letter would soon be coming from the hospital.
In the same week, police met with former chief executive Tony Chambers, and NHS England was informed that a police investigation would be launched.
At the meeting on 27 April, he “angel of death” description was from the recollection of the meeting by Det Chf Supt Wenham.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 16:10
Countess of Chester Hospital’s former director of nursing and quality still under investigation
Alison Kelly, Countess of Chester Hospital former director of nursing and quality, was referred to the General Medical Council Fitness to Practise Team by four consultant paediatricians, Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC tells the inquiry.
Concerns included allegations that Ms Kelly mismanaged the concerns of the consultant body, failed to communicate effectively, failed to take appropriate action, made errors of judgment and damaging decisions, and did not act with honesty and integrity at all times.
The investigation was delayed until after Letby’s criminal trial, and is still continuing.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 15:30
Former medical director Ian Harvey ‘may have fallen seriously below the standard to be expected'
Countess of Chester Hospital former medical Ian Harvey was referred to the General Medical Council Fitness to Practise Team over concerns he failed to act appropriately or timely to response to concerns raised by clinicians over the neo-natal mortality rate from February 2016.
Concerns also included threatening paediatricians, misusing the hospital’s grievance procedures as evidence of Letby’s innocence, misleading the public and trust board.
In September 2018, Mr Harvey, who had by now retired and was leaving in France, said the allegations were “nothing new to him”, Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC tells the inquiry.
He asked for voluntary removal from the register, but said he was prepared to “defend himself vigorously”, Mr de la Poer says.
Mr de la Poer adds: “He described as one of his greatest regrets the “breakdown in the relationship between the Executives and the Consultant Paediatricians…”
The GMC found Mr Harvey’s standard of care may have fallen seriously below the standard to be expected of a reasonably competent medical director.
GMC case examiners decided to close the referral with no action - although Mr Harvey’s application for voluntary erasure from the register was granted.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 15:26
Letby remained a registered nurse free to work untill November 2020
Despite the police investigation launched in 2017, we’re just hearing from Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC that no restriction was imposed on her by the Nursing and Midwifery Council until November 2020 when she was charged.
This is despite the council being informed of concerns in July 2016.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 14:58
NHS England concerned hospital trust ‘avoiding the issue'
After NHS England was notified of concerns over Letby and deaths on the neo-natal ward at Countess of Chester Hospital, Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC tells the inquiry that the body was “becoming increasingly concerned by the situation at the hospital”.
Dr Michael Gregory, from NHS England, emailed hospital medical director Ian Harvey for an update, to with Mr Harvey replied that the hospital was “following the process that would be [the] case in the event of an unexplained death out of hospital and are consulting with the Child Death Overview Panel.”
Dr Gregory forward Mr Harvey’s email to colleagues at NHS England, stating: “Avoiding the issue that we wish to see (contacting the police)”
Tony Chambers, former chief executive of the hospital, was unhappy at Dr Gregory’s accusation of evasiveness, and he wanted to exhaust internal processes first as involving the police could cause distress to the families, says Mr de la Poer.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 14:46
NHS England first contacted over concerns on March 2017
We’re hearing more now on contacts made with outside bodies from Countess of Chester Hospital.
Mr Nicholas de la Poer KC tells the inquiry that Julie Maddocks, from the Cheshire and Merseyside Neonatal Network, which included the neo-natal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Ms Maddocks contacted NHS England in March 2017, asking if a police investigation was required.
NHS England say this was first time they understood there was a concern held by the hospital’s clinicians that there was a connection between a particular individual and neonatal deaths, says Mr de la Poer.
Alex Ross11 September 2024 14:40
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