Nurse who grew up in Hereford arrested over murder of eight babies

A healthcare worker who grew up in Hereford is being questioned on suspicion of murdering eight babies and attempting to kill a further six, in the first police investigation into child deaths in hospitals in nearly 30 years.

Cheshire police said the woman was arrested on Tuesday morning and taken into custody. Officers searched a semi-detached house about a mile from the hospital, north-west of the city. It is understood that the address is the home of Lucy Letby, a 28-year-old nurse.

Sunshine Radio understands plain-clothes police officers have also been at her parents home in Hereford today.

Detective inspector Paul Hughes, leading the operation, said: "The investigation into the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital is continuing. Since it was first launched in May 2017, a dedicated team of detectives have been working tirelessly on this case.

"This is a highly complex and very sensitive investigation and, as you can appreciate, we need to ensure we do everything we possibly can to try to establish in detail what has led to these baby deaths and collapses.

"When the investigation was first launched it was focusing on the deaths of 15 babies that occurred between the period of June 2015 and June 2016.

"In addition the investigation was also conducting a review of six non-fatal collapses during the same period."

"As a result of our ongoing enquiries we have today arrested a healthcare professional in connection with the investigation," said detective inspector Hughes.

"She was arrested earlier this morning on suspicion of murder in relation to eight of the babies and attempted murder in relation to six of the babies and is currently in custody.

"Whilst this is a significant step forward in our inquiries it is important to remember that the investigation is very much active and ongoing at this stage.

"There are no set timescales for this coming to a conclusion but we remain committed to carrying out a thorough investigation as soon as possible."

Countess of Chester Hospital medical director Ian Harvey said the hospital was continuing to support the ongoing police investigation.

The hospital had carried out several independent expert medical reviews into the deaths before alerting the police.

"Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want," Mr Harvey said in a statement.

"The Countess is now equivalent to a Level 1 Special Care Baby Unit and we are confident the unit is safe to continue in its current form."