Families affected by Lucy Letby crimes react as Thirlwall Inquiry report published

Today will be an emotional day for many families many of whom continue to live with the consequences of what happened.

Lady Thirlwall’s report paints a damning picture of what happens when concerns over patient safety are not listened to and acted on. In her own words a dispiriting and at times shocking account of multiple and repeated failings by organisation and individuals.

Failing to escalate concerns, failing to appreciate the seriousness of the risk, failures in safeguarding, failures in governance and oversight, failures in the HR and whistleblowing process, failures in the interactions with external bodies.

Direct and frank criticism of all those at senior management level, and a CEO with an intention throughout to stall or obstruct a police investigation. A CEO so determined to bring down the doctors that he lost objectivity. A Director of Nursing’s misguided determination to protect a nurse overriding her professional judgement. 

To the extent the executives thought about the parents at all, they considered it better to say nothing in the belief that the police investigation would lead nowhere.

At the Countess of Chester, patient safety should have come first. It did not.

Irwin Mitchell represents seven families affected by the crimes of Lucy Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The families recognise that no system can guarantee that deliberate criminal acts will never occur. But when concerns are raised about patient safety, they must be listened to, investigated properly and acted on without delay.

The report today and the criticisms and failings highlighted in it cannot be the end of the matter.

The families deserve more than expressions of regret and promises of change.

The Inquiry has made a series of important recommendations. The Government and relevant public bodies must now demonstrate how they will respond to them, and those responsible for patient safety must ensure that the lessons learned are translated into meaningful and lasting change

Ultimately, that is how we honour the children at the centre of this Inquiry

The families would like to thank Lady Justice Thirlwall, Counsel to the Inquiry, the Inquiry team and everyone who has contributed to this process. 

The families will now take time to reflect on the report and its findings in full.

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