A senior doctor who attempted to alert hospital management about Lucy Letby has described the final report from the public inquiry as extremely distressing. Dr John Gibbs, a consultant paediatrician at the Countess of Chester Hospital during the events of 2015 and 2016, expressed regret that colleagues did not escalate their suspicions to the police sooner.
Letby was convicted in 2023 for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others on the neonatal unit. The Thirlwall Inquiry, established following these convictions, published its 822-page final report on Tuesday, in which Lady Justice Thirlwall highlighted a “complete failure to protect babies” and noted that police should have been involved earlier.
Dr Gibbs, who has since retired, accepted what he termed “collective” responsibility among consultants for some of the systemic failures identified. He apologized to the families of the victims for the failings.
“I wish we consultants had been brave enough to follow our suspicions and escalate things to the police earlier,” Dr Gibbs told the BBC. “If my other consultant colleagues didn’t go to the police, I should have.”
The report found that hospital executives had multiple opportunities to intervene and potentially save lives while the deaths were occurring. Dr Gibbs recalled that the 11-month period after Letby was moved off the unit but before police became involved was marked by a tense atmosphere, with managers determined to reject the notion that Letby had caused harm.
He also referenced a specific incident in August 2015 involving a baby whose blood tests suggested insulin poisoning. Dr Gibbs acknowledged that while one colleague missed the significance of the lab results, it was a failure by the wider team, as other doctors on call had the opportunity to review the notes but did not act on them.
Addressing the ongoing conspiracy theories and support for Letby circulating online, Dr Gibbs admitted the misinformation has taken a toll on him and his colleagues. He stated that while it is frustrating to hear claims of a wrongful conviction, the caliber of experts raising concerns makes it vital that the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) examines the evidence.
Letby is currently serving 15 whole-life terms and has been denied permission to appeal twice. The independent CCRC body is now reviewing her case.
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