Police Expand Inquiry into Countess of Chester Hospital to Investigate Gross Negligence Manslaughter
Police investigating the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Lucy Letby worked, have expanded their inquiry to include potential gross negligence manslaughter by individual staff. Initially focused on corporate manslaughter, the probe now examines whether hospital leaders failed in their duty of care. Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes confirmed that some individuals had been notified but emphasized that "no arrests or charges have yet been made." The investigation continues into the deaths and collapses of babies at both the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women’s Hospital between 2012 and 2016.
This development comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding Letby’s conviction. An international panel of medical experts, reviewing the case on behalf of her legal team, argued that "death or injury were due to natural causes or just bad medical care." Their findings have been submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which has the power to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. Letby, convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others, is serving 15 whole-life sentences but has already lost an appeal attempt.
The timing of the investigation's expansion has sparked criticism from Letby’s legal team. Her barrister, Mark McDonald, questioned whether police were trying to "control the narrative right before submissions are being made to Thirlwall for it to pause." The Thirlwall Inquiry, a public investigation into the hospital's handling of the case, is set to reconvene next week, with findings expected in the autumn. Meanwhile, the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigations.
