Lessons the NHS needs to learn after Lucy Letby case

Experts say the NHS must hold proper investigation of concerns that staff raise about patient safety, and use data to identify any unusual patterns in babies collapsing or dying unexpectedly. Photograph: Zak Waters/Alamy

The scale of Lucy Letby’s crimes, and the Countess of Chester hospital’s failure to act on warnings that could have halted her killing spree, means the announcement of an independent inquiry on Friday was almost inevitable.

It will have to forensically examine the failings of people and processes involved in her serial targeting of sick newborns and make detailed recommendations to ensure babies in neonatal units are much better protected.