Hospital Inquiry Probes Missed Warnings Before Nurse Lucy Letby’s Murders

Former hospital executives deny allegations of negligence and fostering a culture of fear during Letby’s tenure, as public inquiry continues.

Lucy Letby, convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, was linked to unexplained deaths at the Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.
The Thirlwall Inquiry is examining whether hospital leadership failed to act on consultants' warnings about Letby before the deaths of two triplet boys in June 2016.
Consultants had raised concerns in May 2016 about an unusual pattern of deaths coinciding with Letby’s shifts, but hospital executives reportedly dismissed these as circumstantial evidence.
Former medical director Ian Harvey denied creating an 'atmosphere of fear' that discouraged staff from reporting suspicions, though he admitted to communication failures with consultants.
The inquiry is expected to continue into early 2025, with findings to be published later that year, aiming to determine systemic failures and prevent future tragedies.