Letby inquiry: NHS staff want their voices heard

A group representing hundreds of clinicians has applied to contribute to the Lucy Letby inquiry, to challenge NHS culture around whistleblowing.

Their experiences of raising concerns should inform the inquiry, they say.

Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to murder another six while working at the Countess of Chester NHS trust between June 2015 and June 2016.

The public inquiry is examining how the nurse was able to murder and how the hospital handled concerns about her.

“The evidence of this group relating to how whistleblowers are treated, not just at one trust but across the UK, is of huge significance,” Rachel di Clemente, of Hudgell Solicitors, acting for the clinicians, said.

The group, NHS Whistleblowers, comprising healthcare professionals across the UK, including current and former doctors, midwives and nurses, has written to Lady Justice Thirlwall’s inquiry, asking for them to be formally included as core participants.

The inquiry has stated it will consider NHS culture.

And the group says “a culture detrimental to patient safety” is evident across the health service.

“NHS staff who have bravely spoken up about patient-safety concerns or unethical practices deserve to have their voices heard,” Dr Matt Kneale, who co-chairs Doctors’ Association UK, which is part of the group, said.

Several doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital told BBC News senior management at the trust had failed to investigate allegations against Letby for months and tried to silence their concerns.

At one point, the doctors were ordered to write an apology to Letby, now 34, and told to stop making allegations against her.

NHS Whistleblowers, which also includes groups NMCWatch and Justice for Doctors, said it had more than 1,600 members, who could show how whistleblowers were commonly subject to “victimisation and persecution” and referred to medical regulators as a direct consequence of raising concerns.

“Our members could not be better placed to understand the challenges, complexities and potentially career- and, tragically, sometimes life-destroying risks involved when speaking truth to power within the healthcare system,” Dr Martyn Pitman, sacked by the Royal Hampshire County Hospital after raising concerns about maternity care, said.

The inquiry can compel witnesses to give evidence.

Its hearings, in Chester, are unlikely to start until the autumn.

Letby is facing a retrial on an attempted murder charge relating to one baby.

A hearing to decide if she can appeal against her conviction will also be held next month.

Representatives for the inquiry said they could not comment on applications to participate but confirmed it would consider NHS culture and the effectiveness of management and governance structures.