Ex-Hospital Chief Says Staff Complacency After Letby Arrest Left Her Astonished

A former hospital director has told the Thirlwall Inquiry she was astonished by what she described as complacency among staff after Lucy Letby was arrested, according to the BBC.

The inquiry, which published its report on Wednesday, examined events at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby worked as a nurse. The BBC reports the former boss said she was taken aback by the attitude of colleagues following the arrest.

The BBC also reports the inquiry found Letby was repeatedly untruthful, callous and quiet. Separately, The Times reports the inquiry heard Letby prepared a "cold cot" for a baby while the infant was still alive.

In a piece for The Guardian, Tom Dolphin wrote that the inquiry report makes clear that too much NHS management is scandalously poor.

lucy letby

Cheshire Police issued a statement following the publication of the Thirlwall Inquiry report. The force did not announce any new charges in that statement, and no further details of its position were included in the material available.

The inquiry's findings have renewed scrutiny of how hospital managers and staff responded to concerns raised before Letby's arrest.

What to watch next: whether Cheshire Police or other authorities announce any further action in response to the inquiry's conclusions.