Doctors were ‘shut down’ over Letby concerns, ex-senior detective tells inquiry

Hospital bosses “shut down” concerns from elder doctors that Lucy Letby mightiness beryllium murdering babies connected a neonatal unit, a retired constabulary main told a nationalist inquiry.

Former Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Wenham praised advisor paediatricians astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital for speaking retired astir the kid serial slayer nurse.

Letby was moved to clerical duties successful July 2016 aft the deaths of 2 triplet boys connected successive days.

However, Cheshire Police were not called successful by the infirmary until May 2017, and determination were plans soon beforehand to instrumentality Letby to the unit.

Mr Wenham, a constabulary subordinate of the section Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), said helium was not alert until March 2017 of the summation successful the fig of babe deaths connected the portion successful the erstwhile 2 years.

He aboriginal attended a CDOP gathering astatine the infirmary with paediatricians and executives successful precocious April 2017 successful which the concerns were outlined, the Thirlwall Inquiry into the events surrounding Letby’s crimes was told.

Consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram was noted to person stated “one subordinate of staff, interest Beverley Allitt” successful notation to the caregiver convicted of aggregate murders of children successful 1991.

He went connected to accidental “particular caregiver moved disconnected nights … and past nary incidents connected nights”.

However, aesculapian manager Ian Harvey was noted to person said: “nurse afloat time, overtime, allocated sick and poorly babies” and “very blistery unit, unit moving nether pressure”.

Counsel to the inquiry, Rachel Langdale KC, asked: “What was the content you got from that meeting, did you admit the width of opinions?”

Mr Wenham said: “There was a quality successful presumption of the interpretations of the concerns. So possibly the enforcement squad were a spot much satisfied things were being managed whereas immoderate of the doctors contiguous were intelligibly concerned.”

Following the meeting, infirmary spot main enforcement Tony Chambers wrote to past main constable of Cheshire Police, Simon Byrne, connected May 2.

Mr Chambers wrote: “I americium penning formally requesting Cheshire Police behaviour a forensic probe into the circumstances surrounding the deaths with a presumption to excluding immoderate unnatural causes.”

Alex Jamieson, representing families of Letby’s victims, said: “When you statesman an probe bash you cognize wherever you are going to extremity up?”

Mr Wenham said: “No, I would not person utilized that language.”

Mr Jamieson said: “Those last words person nary spot successful this letter, bash they?”

They were conscionable precise almighty successful what they were saying. I deliberation we beryllium each of them a large woody for coming guardant and speaking retired successful the mode they did. A batch of the doctors progressive did rise concerns repeatedly but, sadly, they were unopen down

Nigel Wenham, erstwhile policeman

Mr Wenham said: “They bash not, no.”

The enquiry heard that Mr Wenham reflected that executives were “attempting to unopen doors connected the probe arsenic it was being considered”.

He recalled a “powerful meeting” with consultants Dr Jayaram, Dr Stephen Brearey and Dr Susie Holt connected May 15.

He said: “They were wholly nonrecreational successful their presumption and they were knowledgeable and passionate astir their enactment successful the neonatal unit.

“They had immoderate grade of vexation successful the mode they felt this concern had been reached and I felt that they were relieved that they could talk to the constabulary astir their concerns … and beryllium listened to and believed.

“They were conscionable precise almighty successful what they were saying. I deliberation we beryllium each of them a large woody for coming guardant and speaking retired successful the mode they did.

“A batch of the doctors progressive did rise concerns repeatedly but, sadly, they were unopen down.”

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders aft she was convicted astatine Manchester Crown Court of murdering 7 infants and attempting to execution 7 others, with 2 attempts connected 1 of her victims, betwixt June 2015 and June 2016.

The inquiry, sitting astatine Liverpool Town Hall earlier Lady Justice Thirlwall, is expected to beryllium until aboriginal 2025, with findings published by precocious autumn of that year.