Three former senior staff at the hospital where nurse Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven others have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. All three suspects worked on the senior leadership team at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016 and were bailed after being questioned on Monday. The arrests came after an investigation into potential corporate manslaughter at the hospital was opened in 2023, and then widened in March this year to include gross negligence manslaughter. Cheshire Police said the case does not have any impact on Letby's 2023 convictions for murder and attempted murder. Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole life prison sentences after targeting babies at the hospital's neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. Det Supt Paul Hughes said the corporate manslaughter element of the investigation focused on the senior leadership of the hospital and its decision-making, "to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities". He said gross negligence manslaughter was a separate offence and "focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals". Cheshire Police said it is also carrying out a separate investigation into deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies in Chester and in the Liverpool Women's Hospital, where Letby trained for periods, going back to 2012. Det Supt Hughes said there were "no set timescales" for the manslaughter investigations. Letby has maintained her innocence and her barrister, Mark McDonald, submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) earlier this year. The application included the findings of 14 medical experts who agreed to re-examine the evidence heard at trial and concluded Letby had not harmed any babies. The CCRC, which has the power to refer cases back to the Court of Appeal, said it is reviewing the application and could give no timescale on when a decision would be reached. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via theBBC News App. You can also follow@BBCBreaking on Xto get the latest alerts.
Three former bosses at hospital where Lucy Letby worked arrested over gross negligence manslaughter
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"Former Hospital Leaders Arrested in Connection with Lucy Letby Case"
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TruthLens AI Summary
Three former senior staff members at the Countess of Chester Hospital have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the case of Lucy Letby, a nurse convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others. These individuals were part of the hospital's senior leadership team during the period from 2015 to 2016, when Letby committed her crimes in the neonatal unit. The arrests were made after a broader investigation into potential corporate manslaughter was initiated in 2023, which was later expanded to include allegations of gross negligence. Cheshire Police clarified that these recent developments do not affect Letby's earlier convictions for murder and attempted murder, for which she is currently serving 15 life sentences. Det Supt Paul Hughes emphasized that the investigation aims to scrutinize the hospital's senior leadership decisions related to the increased fatality rates during Letby’s tenure, assessing whether any criminal actions or negligence contributed to the tragic events.
In addition to the ongoing investigations into the leadership's actions, Cheshire Police is also looking into other incidents involving infant fatalities and non-fatal collapses at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women's Hospital, where Letby received training. Det Supt Hughes mentioned that there are no fixed timelines for the outcomes of these manslaughter investigations, indicating the complexity and sensitivity of the cases involved. Meanwhile, Letby maintains her innocence, with her legal team having submitted an application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) earlier this year. This application includes assessments from 14 medical experts who have re-evaluated the trial evidence and asserted that Letby did not harm any infants. The CCRC is currently reviewing this application, but has not provided a specific timeline for a decision, leaving the situation in a state of uncertainty amidst ongoing public and legal scrutiny.
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