The Cheshire Constabulary is expanding its corporate manslaughter probe into neonatal death at the Countess of Chester Hospital, to include gross negligence by individuals.
In October 2023, Cheshire Police announced that they had opened an investigation into corporate murder at the Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust following the conviction of serial killer Lucy Letby.
The trust’s executives were heavily criticised for failing to act sooner after concerns were raised regarding unexplained death in the neonatal ward. In Letby’s case, it was revealed that clinical staff had been raising patient safety concerns for the baby unit two years prior to their being listened.
The investigation will focus on the senior management and their decisions to determine if there was any criminality in the response to increased fatalities.
The senior investigating officer Det Supt Paul Hughes said: “As we have progressed in our investigations, the scope has expanded to include gross negligence manslaughter.
This is a separate crime from corporate manslaughter, and it focuses on grossly negligent actions or inactions of individuals.
It is important to note this does not affect Lucy Letby’s convictions for multiple crimes of murder and attempted killing.
“Those identified as suspected have been notified.” As no arrests have been made or charges filed, we will not confirm the number or identity of those involved.
The investigation is still ongoing and Cheshire Police has no timetable for the gross negligence and corporate manslaughter components.
The investigation is ongoing into the deaths of neonates and non-fatal collapsing of babies in the neonatal units of the Countess of Chester Hospital as well as the Liverpool Women’s Hospital from 2012 to 2016.
The police stated that “our priority is to maintain integrity in our ongoing investigations and support the families at the core of these investigations.”
The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said that it was not appropriate to comment on the police investigation.
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