Police have launched a corporate manslaughter probe into the Countess of Chester hospital after the conviction of killer nurse Lucy Letby.
Letby, 33, was sentenced last month to a rare whole-life order for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit.
Announcing the corporate manslaughter probe, Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell of Cheshire Police, said: “I can confirm that Cheshire Constabulary is carrying out an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
“The investigation will focus on the indictment period of the charges for Lucy Letby, from June 2015 to June 2016, and consider areas including senior leadership and decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place.
“At this stage we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.
“The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to go into any further details or answer specific questions at this time.”
DS Blackwell said officers were supporting families affected in the case and that updates will follow in “due course”.
Letby’s trial heard how consultants at the hospital raised concerns with managers about a spate of deaths on the neo-natal ward.
Consultants demanded Letby be removed from her frontline job, but bosses at the Trust refused to believe she was to blame, the trial heard.
Police previously said they are reviewing the care of 4,000 babies who were admitted to the Countess of Chester – and also Liverpool Women’s Hospital when Letby had two work placements – going as far back as 2012.
The Government has also ordered an independent inquiry into the circumstances behind the murders and attempted murders.
