Three staff from Lucy Letby’s former hospital arrested after police probe

WATCH: Lucy Letby was found guilty of murder

GB NEWS
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 01/07/2025

- 10:53

Updated: 01/07/2025

- 12:08

Operation Duet is currently investigating corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital

Members of the leadership team at the hospital where Lucy Letby worked have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

The three former members of the leadership team at the Countess of Chester Hospital were arrested in relation to Operation Duet, the investigation into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the facility.


All three of those arrested have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries.

It follows the trial and subsequent conviction of Letby which led the force to begin an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

\u200bThe Countess of Chester HospitalThe Countess of Chester Hospital, where Letby carried out her campaign of crimesPA
Lucy LetbyLucy LetbyCHESTER STANDARD

Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes said: "In October 2023 following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

"This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities.

"In March 2025 the scope of the investigation widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter. This is a separate offence to corporate manslaughter and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.

"It is important to note that this does not impact on the convictions of Lucy Letby for multiple offences of murder and attempted murder."

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\u200bThe Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester

The Countess of Chester Hospital

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SIO Hughes added: "As part of our ongoing enquiries, on Monday 30th June three individuals who were part of the senior leadership team at the CoCH in 2015-2016, were arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

"All three have subsequently been bailed pending further enquiries.

"Both the corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter elements of the investigation are continuing and there are no set timescales for these.

"Our investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the neo-natal units of both the Countess of Chester Hospital and the Liverpool Women’s Hospital between the period of 2012 to 2016 is also ongoing."

Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders after she was convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.

In October, her bid to challenge a conviction for the attempted murder of a baby girl was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

Letby was seeking approval to challenge her most recent conviction for trying to kill the newborn, known as Child K, after being found guilty following a retrial in July.

However, three senior judges dismissed Letby’s bid following a hearing in London.