Detectives have upgraded their criminal investigation against the Countess of Chester Hospital from a corporate manslaughter inquiry following the Lucy Letby murders
Staff at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered babies could face prosecution over their deaths.
Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and trying to kill seven more between 2015 and 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital. And she was handed her 15th whole-life term last July for attempting to murder a premature baby girl, meaning she will spend the rest of her time behind bars.
An investigation into corporate manslaughter was launched in October 2023 following the trial and conviction of ex-nurse Letby. But Cheshire Constabulary have now widened their probe to determine whether gross negligence manslaughter took place and announced today that several individuals are now being investigated for gross negligence manslaughter.
In a statement, Cheshire Police Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Hummingbird, said: “In October 2023 following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
“This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities. As our enquiries have continued, the scope of the investigation has now widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter.”
DSI Hughes said that the suspects had been notified by police but no names will be released as there are no charges at this stage. He stated: “This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals. It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder. Those identified as suspects have been notified. We will not be confirming the number of people involved or their identity as no arrests or charges have yet been made.
“Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these. Our investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital between the period of 2012 to 2016 is also ongoing.
“Our priority is to maintain the integrity of our ongoing investigations and to support the many families who are at the heart of these. There is a significant public interest in the reporting of these matters, however, every story that is published, statement made, or comment posted online that refers to the specific details of a live investigation can impede the course of justice and cause further distress to the families concerned.”
The investigation into corporate manslaughter was launched by Cheshire Police in October, 2023, over whether there was scope for a separate prosecution, after the twisted former nurse was jailed for the murder of seven babies in the previous August. Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell said at the time: “Following the lengthy trial, subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby and an assessment by senior investigative officers, I can confirm that Cheshire Constabulary is carrying out an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
“The investigation will focus on the indictment period of the charges for Lucy Letby, from June 2015 to June 2016, and consider areas including senior leadership and decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place. At this stage we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.
“The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to go into any further details or answer specific questions at this time. We recognise that this investigation will have a significant impact on a number of different stakeholders including the families in this case and we are continuing to work alongside and support them during this process.”