Lucy Letby: Senior judge appointed to lead inquiry

Lady Justice Thirlwall has been appointed to seat the Lucy Letby inquiry.

The elder entreaty tribunal justice has been tasked with exploring however neonatal caregiver Letby was capable to execution 7 babies.

The enquiry volition look astatine however the NHS handled the lawsuit and its effect to doctors who raised concerns.

It volition beryllium a statutory enquiry truthful volition person powers to compel witnesses to springiness evidence.

Letby is the astir prolific kid serial slayer successful modern British history. Health Secretary Steve Barclay called her crimes "some of the precise worst the UK has witnessed".

"I cognize that thing tin travel adjacent to righting the wrongs of the past but I anticipation that Lady Justice Thirlwall's enquiry volition spell astatine slightest immoderate mode towards giving the victims' families the answers they deserve," helium said.

Ministers had initially said the enquiry would not person afloat statutory powers but past week announced, aft disapproval from victims' families, it would beryllium upgraded.

Letby, 33, was fixed a full beingness condemnation for murdering 7 babies and attempting to termination six much portion moving astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal portion betwixt 2015 and 2016, meaning she volition walk the remainder of her beingness successful prison.

She was recovered not blameworthy of a further 2 attempted murders and the assemblage failed to scope verdicts connected different six, during the 10-month trial.

BBC News has since been told infirmary bosses failed to analyse allegations against Letby and tried to soundlessness doctors.

The infirmary besides delayed calling the police, contempt months of warnings the caregiver whitethorn person been sidesplitting babies, according to its doctors.

Mr Barclay besides told the House of Commons the authorities would see whether tighter regularisation of managers was needed.

Officials astatine the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England would research introducing a disbarring service, helium said, thing antecedently seen arsenic unnecessary pursuing reviews of NHS management.