Lead consultant regrets delaying police report over Lucy Letby baby murders

Dr Stephen Brearey, who was the lead neonatal consultant at the Countess of Chester Hospital, has stated that he regrets not reporting nurse Lucy Letby to the police sooner. The BBC reported that Brearey made the statement in his first interview following the publication of the Thirlwall Inquiry report. [1]

Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at the Chester hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. She was investigated following an unusual cluster of deaths in the neonatal unit. [3]

According to the BBC, Brearey admitted he had naively assumed senior managers would respond to staff suspicions regarding Letby's involvement in the deaths. He also reflected on the wide effect the events had on hospital staff. [1]

The Thirlwall Inquiry found that a toxic negativity within the National Health Service continues to discourage staff from speaking out. The BBC reported that this cultural issue persists despite the existence of stronger whistleblowing guidance. [1]