Second hospital linked to baby murders probe
Nurse quizzed over 8 deaths
THE investigation into the alleged murders of newborn babies has been widened to a second hospital.
And as police continued to question a nurse yesterday, more anxious mothers raised fears over their children’s care.
Lucy Letby, 28, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and attempted murder of six at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
She has been employed there since graduating in 2011. She also did work placements at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, including one in 2013.
Yesterday health chiefs in Merseyside said they were co-operating with the inquiry.
Meanwhile, news of Letby’s arrest on Tuesday shocked former Countess patients. One mum, whose baby collapsed during treatment in 2013 but later recovered, has contacted police to raise her concerns.
Victoria Whitfield, 39, of Chester, recognised photos of Letby as a member of staff at the neonatal unit when her daughter Felicity suddenly became seriously ill with collapsed lungs.
She said: “I cannot honestly say whether she was directly involved with Felicity as she seemed to be a normal, quiet nurse just going about her job.”
Police launched a probe into infant deaths at the Chester hospital in May last year, initially looking at 15 between June 2015 and June 2016.
On Tuesday they said the probe had widened to 17 deaths and 15 non-fatal collapses between March 2015 and July 2016. Police have been searching Letby’s semi-detached house a mile away from the hospital, and officers have also been seen at the home of her parents, John, 72, and Susan, 58, in Hereford. A close relative of one of the alleged victims who survived was in tears yesterday as she said:
“The family have been through the mill.” She added the boy, who collapsed in the neonatal unit two years ago, has suffered continuing health problems. The mum of another child who is understood to have been cared for by Letby in 2016 said:
“I met her a few times, she was completely normal.” She added: “One of my friend’s babies is one of the ones that collapsed. it’s overwhelming. They are in the neonatal unit because they’re fighting for their lives. It would never cross my mind those caring for them could do them any harm.”
Another worried mum, 36, has expressed her fears. She said her baby’s ventilation tube became blocked in 2012 after he had earlier suffered a collapsed lung. Police have not named the arrested healthcare worker. The Countess of Chester has declined to comment on whether any staff have been suspended. Liverpool Women’s Hospital confirmed the person being questioned carried out work placements there.
It is co-operating with police as part of a “routine view” of patients cared for at the neonatal unit at the time of those placements. The trust added: “There is currently no suggestion that any patients at Liverpool Women’s came to any harm in relation to this investigation.”