The public inquiry into the tragic events surrounding Lucy Letby, a nurse convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to kill seven others, has shed light on significant lapses in safeguarding procedures at the Countess of Chester Hospital. This inquiry, now in its 11th week, is crucial in understanding how Letby evaded detection during her crimes.
Alison Kelly, who served as the director of nursing and executive lead for safeguarding at the hospital, testified that she failed to escalate serious concerns about Letby’s involvement in unexplained infant deaths. In May 2016, senior consultant Dr. Stephen Brearey raised alarms regarding Letby’s connections to these tragic incidents.
Kelly maintained that she did not perceive these concerns as safeguarding issues at the time. She stated that there was a lack of concrete evidence to support a referral.
The inquiry revealed that Kelly did not submit a safeguarding referral to the local board until March 2018, nearly two years after initial concerns were voiced. During her testimony at Liverpool Town Hall, she noted that terms like “gut feeling” and “drawer of doom” did not provide sufficient clarity or evidence regarding Letby’s actions.
When pressed by barrister Nicholas de la Poer KC on why she did not report the doctors' concerns to NHS England in July 2016, Kelly described her decision as a “fine balance” and characterized the claims as hearsay. Nevertheless, she later conceded that hindsight revealed these matters should have been treated with greater urgency.
Kelly expressed regret over her decisions but emphasized that they were made with good intentions. She stressed that she relied on her team to communicate any safeguarding concerns.
The inquiry also highlighted a troubling delay before any formal action was taken. Kelly’s eventual referral was criticized for lacking necessary detail and came almost a year after Cheshire Police began investigating unexplained deaths on the unit.
As this inquiry progresses towards its anticipated conclusion in early 2025, it aims to provide families affected by these events with clarity and closure. The findings are expected to be released in autumn next year, marking an important step in addressing systemic failures within healthcare safeguarding practices.
With ongoing discussions about accountability and transparency in healthcare settings, this case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and communication in protecting vulnerable patients from harm.
Disturbing Revelations from the Lucy Letby Inquiry The ongoing public inquiry into Lucy Letby, a nurse convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to kill seven others, has unveiled chilling details about her behavior prior to her arrest.
Disturbing Revelations in Lucy Letby Inquiry The ongoing inquiry into Lucy Letby’s heinous actions has unveiled chilling details about her interactions with colleagues during her time at Countess of Chester Hospital.