Doctor regrets not going to police earlier about Lucy Letby
Dr. Stephen Brearey, a neonatal consultant, expressed regret for not reporting his concerns about nurse Lucy Letby to the police sooner. The Thirlwall Inquiry highlighted a culture of 'toxic negativity' within the NHS that hindered staff from whistleblowing on the serial killer.
Why it matters
The case serves as a landmark example of the dangers of institutional failure and the critical need for robust whistleblowing protections in healthcare systems.
Image caption, Dr Stephen Brearey said he began to associate Letby with unexplained deaths in 2015
A senior doctor who raised suspicions about Lucy Letby has said he should have gone to police sooner.
Dr Stephen Brearey was the lead neonatal consultant at the Countess of Chester Hospital when the nurse murdered seven babies and attempted to murder seven others.
In his first interview since the publication of the Thirlwall Inquiry report into what happened, Brearey reflected on the effect on staff and said he had "naively" assumed senior managers would respond to suspicions about the nurse's involvement in a series of baby deaths.
The inquiry found a "toxic negativity" within the NHS that continued to discourage staff from speaking out, despite stronger whistleblowing guidance, and said regulation was lacking.
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