Lucy Letby: Concerns inquiry will not have enough powers

Concerns person been raised that the enquiry looking into the murders and attempted murders of babies by Lucy Letby volition not spell acold enough.

An autarkic enquiry has been ordered pursuing the nurse's condemnation for the crimes astatine a infirmary successful Chester.

But MP Samantha Dixon said a justice should pb this portion MP Dr Caroline Johnson said the close attack is being taken.

The governments said the enquiry would purpose to supply answers to the families.

Letby was recovered blameworthy connected Friday of murdering 7 babies and attempting to execution six babies astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital pursuing a 10-month trial.

She was recovered not blameworthy connected 2 attempted murders and the assemblage could not scope verdicts connected six others.

The Department of Health said the autarkic enquiry aimed to supply answers to the parents of the babies and guarantee lessons were learned.

However the enquiry volition not person the powerfulness to summon grounds oregon witnesses, arsenic it is not a statutory inquiry.

Dr Bill Kirkup, who has led non-statutory reviews for different maternity units, said non-compliance had not been a occupation successful his acquisition and radical were "ready and consenting to cooperate".

The diligent information researcher told the BBC helium had identified communal features betwixt the Letby lawsuit and the reviews helium had conducted - including managers accused of "protecting reputations" supra listening to unit concerns.

Some person raised concerns implicit the limitations of the caller inquiry.

City of Chester MP Ms Dixon said portion she welcomed the volition to determination swiftly the enquiry would trust connected "the goodwill of witnesses to attend".

"I deliberation successful a lawsuit arsenic sedate arsenic this a justice would request to bash that," she told BBC Breakfast.

Former Crown Prosecution Service main successful north-west England Nazir Afzal, shares Ms Dixon's concerns.

Mr Afzal argued that astir 10 years connected immoderate recommendations from that enquiry had inactive not been afloat implemented.

"When you person a judicial inquiry, determination is immoderate level of authorization down it that requires you to respond," helium told BBC Breakfast.

But Dr Johnson, a advisor paediatrician and MP who sits connected the wellness prime committee, said lessons needed to beryllium learned rapidly and the authorities could determine to bid a statutory enquiry astatine a aboriginal day if other powers were needed.

"I admit that radical can't beryllium compelled successful rather the aforesaid way, I would anticipation that radical would inactive nevertheless travel forward," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

After the verdict, Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said it was "extremely sorry" the crimes happened successful its infirmary and it had since made "significant changes" to their services.

Former main enforcement of the infirmary Tony Chambers and erstwhile aesculapian manager Ian Harvey, who were successful complaint astatine the clip Letby was moving astatine the hospital, person said they volition co-operate afloat with the inquiry.