Inspectors not told of spike in baby deaths at hospital, inquiry told

The “emerging superior concern” of a emergence successful babe deaths astatine the Countess of Chester Hospital should person been shared openly, an inspection main has told a nationalist enquiry implicit the crimes of Lucy Letby.

An inspection squad from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) was not told of a spike successful neonatal mortality oregon that a fig of the deaths were unexpected and unexplained erstwhile they visited the infirmary successful mid-February 2016.

The slayer caregiver had already murdered 5 infants by past and during the inspection play she attempted to execution a babe girl, Child K, arsenic she dislodged her breathing conduit successful the aboriginal hours of February 17.

A week earlier the inspection an outer “thematic” reappraisal into 10 deaths connected the portion successful 2015 and January 2016 noted “some of the babies abruptly and unexpectedly deteriorated and determination was nary wide origin for the deterioration/death identified”.

It besides recovered six babies had arrests betwixt midnight and 4am but it concluded nary communal taxable had been recovered successful each the cases examined.

Medical manager Ian Harvey and manager of nursing Alison Kelly received copies of the reappraisal the time earlier the inspection aft Mr Harvey requested it with notation to the CQC visit, the Thirlwall Inquiry has heard.

But inspectors from the healthcare regulator person told the enquiry that neither mentioned the reappraisal erstwhile they were interviewed connected site.

Giving grounds connected Friday, the past CQC determination caput of infirmary inspections Ann Ford said: “This was different.

“This wasn’t conscionable information.

“This was astir an emerging superior concern.

“It was a really, truly important contented and I deliberation they should person made america alert of it immediately.

“Any documentation, immoderate audits, immoderate reviews, immoderate enactment they had undertaken, should person been shared transparently and openly.

“I truly bash deliberation the spot had a nonrecreational work and an work to patients to beryllium unfastened and transparent with america and I would person liked to person known astir those concerns earlier.”

She said she archetypal learned of an summation successful neonatal mortality connected June 29 2016 successful a telephone telephone from Ms Kelly aft the inspection study had been published earlier that time and had rated services for children and young radical arsenic “good”.

Ms Kelly said a fig of measures had been taken including downgrading the neonatal portion truthful intensive attraction babies were taken to different centres but Letby was not mentioned, said Ms Ford.

Ms Ford told the hearing: “I deliberation we should person been alerted astir the concerns of a practitioner connected the portion and however they were managing that.”

The inspection main besides said that concerns had been raised by consultants during the inspection that they were being “oppressed” and “bullied” by elder management.

She said the comments were made during a absorption radical gathering and besides included concerns astir staffing levels and the spot not listening to them.

Ms Ford said she thought the feedback was aboriginal brought up by inspectors with Mr Harvey.

She said: “I recognize his absorption was that they were moving connected civilization successful the spot and that helium would talk to the advisor assemblage and helium would statesman to code those concerns.”

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, is expected to beryllium until aboriginal 2025, with findings published by precocious autumn of that year.