Three arrested in Lucy Letby hospital investigation

They’ve been arrested today. 

Three members of the senior leadership team at Lucy Letby’s former hospital in Chester have been arrested. 

The arrests were confirmed today by Cheshire Police

The trio, who have not been named, worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital from 2015 to 2016 and are currently being questioned on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. 

These new arrests are not thought to affect the convictions of Lucy Letby, who was found guilty of murdering seven babies and trying to murder six others following an eight-month trial in 2023.

The 34-year-old is currently serving multiple life sentences for those offences which make Letby Britain's worst child serial killer of the modern era.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet told Sky News: "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.

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

"As part of our ongoing enquiries, on Monday 30th June three individuals who were part of the senior leadership team at the CoCH [Countess of Chester Hospital] 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."

These new arrests are the first to be made in the investigation at Countess of Chester Hospital since Lucy Letby was first arrested in 2018.