Hospital bosses deny suppressing Letby concerns

Executives astatine the infirmary wherever Lucy Letby attacked and killed babies person told a nationalist enquiry they had ne'er tried to "suppress concerns" astir the nurse.

However, the 4 erstwhile elder managers astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital said they were "deeply sorry" to her victims' families for "keeping them successful the dark".

While they stressed they had had nary suspicions regarding foul play connected the portion of the caregiver earlier June 2016, they apologised for a hold successful contacting constabulary aft Letby was removed from front-line duty.

The Thirlwall Inquiry, astatine Liverpool Town Hall, heard nary of the 4 managers had antecedently experienced "such transgression behaviour" implicit the people of their agelong careers.

Kate Blackwell KC spoke connected behalf of erstwhile main enforcement Tony Chambers, erstwhile aesculapian manager Ian Harvey, erstwhile manager of nursing Alison Kelly, and ex-HR manager Susan Hodkinson.

On Thursday, lawyers representing the families of babies injured oregon murdered by Letby criticised the managers for failing to analyse concerns raised by consultants moving successful the hospital's neonatal unit.

During Letby's transgression trial, cardinal witnesser Dr Ravi Jayaram told the jury that helium and his chap consultants were nether a "reasonable magnitude of unit from elder absorption astatine the infirmary not to marque a fuss".

However, Ms Blackwell told enquiry seat Lady Justice Thirlwall: "At nary clip did the elder managers question to suppress concerns oregon attempts to stroke the whistle.

"And it volition beryllium a substance of exploration for this enquiry arsenic to wherefore those who held concerns astir criminality did not interaction the NMC, the police, oregon immoderate of the different applicable outer bodies."

The consultants progressive person not yet addressed the enquiry connected this point, but are owed to springiness grounds successful the coming weeks.

Ms Blackwell said elder managers felt they had "taken due steps" based connected the accusation they had received astatine the clip astir rising decease rates successful the hospital's neonatal unit.

They recognised, however, that interaction with immoderate parents "was inadequate, some successful presumption of frequence and manner, and that this has caused wounded and anxieties to those affected".

The managers stated that, erstwhile made alert that Letby was connected displacement during galore unexplained deaths and collapses successful health, they were told it was apt owed to the nurse's "specialist training" and her willingness to bash other shifts.

They said neonatal portion manager Eirian Powell was besides "firmly of the presumption that Letby was a bully and competent nurse".

The enquiry heard Mr Chambers, Ms Kelly, Mr Harvey and Ms Hodkinson had worked successful healthcare for galore years but had "never travel crossed specified transgression behaviour".

"That a caregiver could beryllium liable for these heinous crimes is profoundly disturbing," Ms Blackwell said.

"It is not thing that immoderate of america ever expected to beryllium happening connected the neonatal ward of the hospital, it being truthful against the earthy bid of what was contemplated oregon foreseen.”

The enquiry besides heard an opening connection connected behalf of NHS England, which criticised the Countess of Chester Hospital for under-reporting superior incidents successful its neonatal unit.

Jason Beer KC, connected behalf of NHS England, told the inquiry: "It seems to beryllium mostly acknowledged that determination was under-reporting of incidents connected the neonatal unit."

Mr Beer said NHS England acknowledged it "could person done more" to scrutinise the infirmary erstwhile decease rates connected the portion became a concern.

Letby, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life situation presumption aft she was convicted successful August 2023 of murdering 7 babies and attempting to execution 7 others betwixt June 2015 and June 2016.

The enquiry continues.