Investigation into hospital executives urged

author: FutureCar Staff    

A medical expert is calling for an investigation into hospital executives involved in the Lucy Letby case for corporate manslaughter. Retired consultant paediatrician Dewi Evans, who spoke for the prosecution, believes that the executives who ignored concerns about the serial killer nurse should be held accountable. He plans to write to Cheshire police and request an investigation into the managerial individuals involved. Dr Evans also believes that the hospital itself should be investigated for criminal negligence.

Dr Evans emphasizes that the failure to act on the concerns raised was grossly irresponsible, especially considering the serious nature of the emergency. Hospital executives reportedly claimed that there was no evidence against Letby other than coincidence in a May 2016 review and shifted blame onto other NHS services for the unexplained deaths.

Letby, 33, was convicted of the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of six more while working at the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. Consultants who had raised concerns about Letby as early as 2015 believe that the hospital management's inaction prevented potential lives from being saved. Dr Stephen Brearey, the head consultant of the neonatal unit, had first raised Letby's association with an increase in baby collapses in June 2015. Concerned doctors had requested an urgent meeting, but executives failed to respond appropriately.

Police were only contacted in 2017, and Dr Ravi Jayaram, another consultant, continued to express concerns about Letby as more collapses occurred. Both consultants noted that hospital executives were reluctant to involve the police due to concerns about damaging the trust's reputation.

Dr Dewi Evans was appointed by Cheshire Police to investigate a series of collapses on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital. He believes that if hospital bosses had acted with greater urgency on the concerns raised, three murders could have been prevented.

Former chair of the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Sir Duncan Nichol, claims that the board was misled by hospital executives. Despite concerns, the board was reportedly told that there was no criminal activity pointing to any one individual. The rise in incidents on the neonatal unit was not made known to the board until July 2016.

An independent inquiry into Letby's crimes has been announced by the Government, but some argue that a non-statutory inquiry is not sufficient. Slater and Gordon, representing two of the families involved, believe that the inquiry needs to have a statutory basis to have real consequences. Former chief executive of the trust, Dr Susan Gilby, also calls for a full public inquiry.

The sentencing for Letby is scheduled for Monday, but she has indicated that she will not participate in the hearing. The Countess of Chester Hospital has made significant changes to its services since Letby worked there, according to Dr Nigel Scawn, the medical director.

FutureCar Staff