A number of staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital have been identified as suspects in a police investigation into corporate manslaughter.
Cheshire Police says it has now widened the scope of its investigation to include gross negligence manslaughter, as they investigate the hospital’s senior leadership and their response to increased deaths.
Lucy Letby was convicted in October 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others between 2015 and 2016, while she worked at the hospital.
The force says it has notified people who have been identified as suspects in their investigation, but they will not confirm the number of people involved or their identity yet.
Since her conviction, Letby has attempted to challenge her convictions as she has maintained her innocence throughout.
Last December her barrister, Mark McDonald, said he would immediately seek permission to reopen the case from the Court of Appeal after he claimed expert witness Dr Dewi Evans had ‘remarkably’ changed his mind.
And last month, a panel of 14 of the world’s top neonatal experts claimed there is ‘no evidence’ that Letby had murdered any babies.
Their evidence has been passed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, and Letby’s legal team hope her case will be referred back to the Court of Appeal.
Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes said: ‘In October 2023 following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
‘This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities.
‘As our enquiries have continued, the scope of the investigation has now widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter.
‘This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.
‘It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder.
‘Those identified as suspects have been notified. We will not be confirming the number of people involved or their identity as no arrests or charges have yet been made.
‘Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these.
‘Our investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital between the period of 2012 to 2016 is also ongoing.
‘Our priority is to maintain the integrity of our ongoing investigations and to support the many families who are at the heart of these.
‘There is a significant public interest in the reporting of these matters, however, every story that is published, statement made, or comment posted online that refers to the specific details of a live investigation can impede the course of justice and cause further distress to the families concerned.’
Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders.
A public inquiry into the events surrounding Letby’s crimes will reconvene at Liverpool Town Hall on Monday March 17 for closing submissions, and the findings of chairwoman Lady Justice Thirlwall are expected this autumn.
A spokesperson at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘Due to the Thirlwall Inquiry and the ongoing police investigations, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.’
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