Hospital bosses were ‘disbelieving of baby harm fears’

Two senior hospital managers were “disbelieving” of concerns raised by doctors that nurse Lucy Letby could be deliberately harming babies, a public inquiry into her crimes has heard.

The inquiry, led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, is looking into how Letby was able to murder and attack babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015 and 2016.

Letby, 34, originally from Hereford, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others – including one baby she attempted to kill twice. She is serving 15 whole-life prison terms.

The Liverpool hearing was told that concerns were raised over the sudden and unexplained collapses of babies in 2015 and 2016.

Medical director Ian Harvey and director of nursing Alison Kelly were interviewed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) as part of an independent inquiry ordered by the health trust in response to the allegations.

It came after two consultants had told the RCPCH review team they were worried about the collapses of infants.

The inquiry heard that they had noted the association with Letby’s presence and had even gone as far as to conduct research into how she might have murdered children.

Asked about Mr Harvey’s attitude to these suspicions, review team member Alex Mancini said: “I think his attitude was disbelieving and I also believed that Alison Kelly felt that as well.”

Counsel to the inquiry Nicholas de la Poer KC asked her: “Did you get the impression they were treating the allegations seriously and recognised the seriousness?”

“No,” Ms Mancini replied.

Fellow reviewer Claire McLaughlan told the hearing she had the “feeling” that Mr Harvey did not want to call the police in to investigate the matter and recalled Ms Kelly was “supportive” of Letby.

She agreed she “rather underestimated” the significance of the information given by the doctors.

Ms McLaughlan also recalled there were “lots of assertions” that Letby was being “scapegoated”.

Mr de la Poer asked: “Do you think you placed too great an emphasis on that?”

Ms McLaughlan said: “In retrospect, yes.”

The inquiry has heard that hospital bosses ordered reviews rather than call police to look into the deaths as Letby was moved to clerical duties in July 2016.

Cheshire Police were not brought in to investigate the matter until May 2017.

The inquiry continues.