Letby asked nurses to be ‘supportive’ as she planned return to ward – inquiry

Lucy Letby urged her chap nurses to beryllium “sensitive and supportive” connected her planned instrumentality to a infirmary neonatal portion arsenic she told them she had been “fully exonerated” of immoderate wrongdoing, an enquiry has heard.

The kid serial slayer had been removed from the Countess of Chester Hospital portion successful July 2016 aft advisor paediatricians raised concerns with absorption that she whitethorn person been harming babies aft a drawstring of unexpected and unexplained deaths and collapses.

Six months later, main enforcement Tony Chambers told consultants to “draw a enactment nether the Lucy issue” aft helium said outer reviews had recovered nary grounds of criminality and that a grievance process that Letby took retired implicit her removal had been upheld.

Mr Chambers ordered the consultants to apologise to Letby for alleged derogatory remarks aft she complained immoderate doctors had been heard to notation to her publically arsenic the “angel of death” and the “murderer connected the unit”, the Thirlwall Inquiry into events surrounding Letby’s crimes has heard.

Days aboriginal connected January 31 2017, Letby sent a radical email to neonatal nurses successful which she wrote: “Dear colleagues, I was redeployed from the portion successful July 2016 pursuing superior and distressing allegations of a idiosyncratic and nonrecreational quality made by immoderate members of the aesculapian team.

“From past until present I person been incapable to sojourn oregon interaction the portion whilst these matters were investigated.

“After a thorough probe it was established that each the allegations were unfounded and untrue, and truthful I person been afloat exonerated. I person received a afloat apology from the trust.

“As you tin ideate this full occurrence has been distressing for maine and my family. I volition statesman my instrumentality to the portion successful the coming weeks. I volition request colleagues to beryllium delicate and supportive astatine this time.

“Many thanks, Lucy Letby.”

The enquiry has heard the consultants persisted with their concerns and Letby’s instrumentality to the portion from clerical duties was postponed until infirmary bosses yet called successful Cheshire Police successful May 2017.

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, chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, is expected to beryllium astatine Liverpool Town Hall until aboriginal adjacent year, with findings published by precocious autumn 2025.