Letby inquiry: Former nurse director among ‘core participants’

The former nursing director at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered seven babies will be among the 'core participants' of the Thirlwall Inquiry.

The inquiry, chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, will investigate how Letby was able to commit the murders and attempt six others while she worked as a neonatal nurse at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2015 and 2016.

This week, Alison Kelly, who was director of nursing and quality at the trust during the time of Letby's crimes, was announced as 1 of 10 core participants in the inquiry.

Also named were former Countess of Chester chief executive Tony Chambers, former medical director Ian Harvey and former human resources director Sue Hodkinson.

Ms Kelly and Mr Harvey were among the senior staff at the trust who were accused of failing to act when clinicians first raised concerns about Letby.

How managers responded to such concerns is one of the areas due to be investigated by the Thirlwall Inquiry.

A number of organisations are also on the list as core participants, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), NHS England, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Department of Health and Social Care and Countess of Chester itself.

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Source: Nursing Times, 3 January 2024