Letby failings go beyond one hospital - the whole system has been found lacking

Image source, Getty Images By Nick Triggle Health correspondent Published 39 minutes ago The public inquiry into the Lucy Letby case may have reserved the strongest criticism for the Countess of Chester Hospital and its management, but there are big questions for the wider NHS to answer too.

The Thirlwall inquiry's final report said there was a "complete failure" to protect babies on the neonatal unit where Letby murdered seven and attempted to murder seven more.

But a third of the report was given over to the wider role played by the health system in England - and make no mistake, it was found lacking.

Across more than 200 pages, inquiry chair Lady Justice Thirlwall set out how the culture of the health system created the conditions that enable poor care - or in this case criminality - to go unchecked for so long.