The notorious Lucy Letby, now infamous for being the most prolific infant serial killer in the annals of British history, was upheld with a life imprisonment following the proven murder of seven infants, and the attempted murder of an additionally six.
The burden now lies on the shoulders of Lady Justice Thirlwall, who has been appointed to preside over the inquiry into the gross malpractice of Letby, the neonatal nurse. The senior appeal court judge is tasked with the monumental challenge of delineating the circumstances that permitted Letby to conduct such heinous acts.
In addition to shedding light on Letby’s actions, the inquiry will also delve into how the NHS managed the case and its reaction to the alarms raised by physicians regarding the situation. The investigation bears statutory weight, equipping it with the authority to commandeer witnesses to present their evidence.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay noted the gruesomeness of Letby’s crimes, branding them as among the “very worst the U.K. has witnessed.” Despite the irreparable damage, Barclay expressed hopes that Lady Justice Thirlwall’s inquiry will provide the grieving victims’ families with some semblance of comfort by providing much-needed answers.
Initially, ministers were hesitant about granting the inquiry full statutory authority. However, following the outcry from victims’ families, the decision was revised, resulting in the elevation of the inquiry’s powers.
Aged 33, Letby was entrusted with the delicate task of nursing newborns at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit during 2015 and 2016. Despite the trust placed in her, Letby went on to be charged with life imprisonment without parole for her unthinkable actions.
However, during the ten months of the trial, Letby was acquitted of two additional attempted murder charges, and the jury was unable to reach a consensus on a further six accusations.
Further investigations revealed that hospital administrators turned a blind eye to the allegations leveled against Letby, even attempting to muzzle physicians who brought forth accusations. Despite numerous warnings about the nurse’s ill conduct, the hospital deferred notifying the police.
Addressing the House of Commons, Mr. Barclay stated that the government was considering implementing stricter regulations for managing directors. Concurrently, officials from the Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England were considering introducing a disbarring service for managers, dismissed as unwarranted during prior evaluations of the NHS management.
Further, Mr. Barclay disclosed that the former barrister Baroness Lampard, renowned for her pivotal role in the Department of Health’s inquiry into Jimmy Savile’s crimes, had consented to chair an independent inquiry. This probe will examine the deaths of Essex’s mental-health services patients that occurred between 2000 and 2020.
Originally non-statutory, the inquiry, launched in 2021, was granted additional authority by Mr. Barclay in the summers’ prior, resulting from the insistence of the previous chair, Dr. Geraldine Strathdee, who had to abdicate due to health problems.
