Second hospital probes nurse in baby deaths case
A SECOND hospital has launched an investigation after it emerged that a nurse arrested on suspicion of the murder of eight babies had spent time training there.
Lucy Letby, 28, who is also suspected of the attempted murder of another six newborns, is in custody while police search her home in connection with the deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
Liverpool Women’s Hospital announced yesterday that it was involved in the police investigation and was reviewing patients who attended the hospital during Ms Letby’s placement there. It is not known what her duties were at the hospital.
A spokesman for Liverpool Women’s Trust said: “A healthcare worker currently involved in a police investigation undertook placements at Liverpool Women’s during their training.
“We are cooperating with police as part of their investigation, which includes a routine review of patients cared for on our neonatal unit during the time of these placements. There is currently no suggestion that any patients at Liverpool Women’s came to any harm in relation to this investigation.”
Cheshire Police are investigating the deaths of 17 babies and 15 non-fatal collapses at the Countess of Chester Hospital between June 2015 to 2016.
The force has not confirmed the identity of the health worker who was arrested on Tuesday morning, on suspicion of murder in relation to eight of the babies and attempted murder in relation to six of the babies, but it is understood to be Ms Letby.
A blue tent has been erected outside her home on Westbourne Road, Chester, and officers were seen searching the property as well as that of her parents.
After qualifying as a children’s nurse Ms Letby joined the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester, where she also spent time during her training.
Det Insp Paul Hughes, in charge of the investigation for Cheshire Police, said: “This is a highly complex and very sensitive investigation and, as you can appreciate, we need to ensure we do everything we possibly can to try to establish in detail what has led to these deaths and collapses.
“As a result of our ongoing inquiries we have today arrested a healthcare professional in connection with the investigation.”
Ian Harvey, the hospital’s medical director, said he was confident the unit was currently operating safely.
He said: “We are continuing to support Cheshire Police with their ongoing investigation. Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want.
“The Countess is now equivalent to a Level 1 Special Care Baby Unit and we are confident the unit is safe.”