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The Countess of Chester Hospital’s former chief executive, Tony Chambers, harbored concerns about a potential "wrongful conviction" following the arrest of Lucy Letby in July 2018, according to Dr. Susan Gilby. Letby, a nurse, was detained by Cheshire Constabulary after several unexplained collapses and deaths of babies in the hospital’s neonatal unit. Dr. Gilby, who joined the hospital as the new deputy chief executive and medical director shortly after Letby’s arrest, described a "quite bizarre" conversation with Chambers. During this discussion, Chambers expressed his belief that no deliberate harm had been caused, despite the arrest, and feared that the paediatricians might have wrongfully accused Letby, leading to a wrongful conviction. He was convinced that no charges would ultimately be brought against her.
Dr. Gilby testified at the Thirlwall Inquiry, which is investigating the events surrounding Letby’s crimes. She recalled that she expected the hospital’s executive team to be "absolutely reeling" from the arrest, as it implicated a staff member in multiple murders and attempted murders. However, Chambers remained focused on the possibility that the paediatricians might have caused harm to Letby’s reputation and that there was no single cause found for the infants’ collapses. Dr. Gilby emphasized that it was not the hospital’s role to determine the cause but to address the unexplained incidents, which were inherently concerning.
The hospital’s leadership, including Chambers and then medical director Ian Harvey, had earlier commissioned independent investigations into the increased mortality rates in the neonatal unit. However, police were not involved until May 2017. Dr. Gilby perceived that both Chambers and Harvey believed the paediatricians were mistaken in their suspicions and that no evidence of deliberate harm had been uncovered in their reviews. She noted that there was a sentiment among the executives that the paediatricians were looking for someone to blame, possibly due to their inability to accept that they might not be the best in their field.
Dr. Gilby eventually replaced Chambers when he stepped down in September 2018. Her testimony shed light on the internal dynamics and the executive team’s skepticism regarding the paediatricians’ concerns. The inquiry further revealed that Letby was moved to non-clinical duties in June 2016, after paediatricians expressed fears that she might be deliberately harming babies. This decision was made without involving the police initially, reflecting the hospital’s approach to handling the situation internally.
Lucy Letby, now 35, from Hereford, is serving seven whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016. Recently, an international panel of neonatologists and paediatric specialists suggested that the collapses and deaths could be attributed to bad medical care and natural causes rather than deliberate harm. This evidence has been submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which is assessing whether Letby’s case constitutes a miscarriage of justice. Her legal team hopes the case will be reopened in the Court of Appeal.
The Thirlwall Inquiry will reconvene on March 17 for closing submissions, with findings expected this autumn. The inquiry aims to provide clarity on the events surrounding Letby’s arrest, the hospital’s handling of the situation, and the validity of the convictions. The case has sparked significant public interest and debate, particularly regarding the potential for a wrongful conviction and the role of the healthcare professionals involved. The inquiry’s conclusions could have far-reaching implications for justice, healthcare, and the trust placed in medical professionals.
