Key findings from Lucy Letby Thirlwall Inquiry
A public inquiry into the crimes of nurse Lucy Letby has concluded that systemic failures at the Countess of Chester Hospital allowed her to murder seven babies and attempt to murder seven others. Chairwoman Lady Justice Thirlwall highlighted dysfunctional management as a primary factor in the failure to protect infants.
Why it matters
The findings expose critical lapses in hospital governance and safeguarding protocols, prompting calls for systemic reform in the UK's National Health Service.
Image source, Cheshire Police Image caption, Lucy Letby was convicted of the murders of seven babies, and the attempted murder of seven others - one of whom she attempted to kill twice
The deaths and near-deaths of some babies who were attacked by nurse Lucy Letby could have been prevented if safeguarding practices had been followed, the public inquiry into her crimes has found.
Delivering the conclusion of her inquiry, chairwoman Lady Justice Thirlwall said it would never be possible to know for sure how many lives could have been saved.
But she found there was a "complete failure to protect babies on the neonatal unit" at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby, now 36, murdered seven babies and attempted to murder seven others - one of them twice.
Thirlwall described a system of "dysfunctional management and governance".
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