Police investigate possible corporate manslaughter at Letby hospital

Police are investigating possible corporate manslaughter at the hospital where serial killer Lucy Letby worked.

The former nurse, 33, was jailed in August for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Cheshire Police said the latest investigation was in its early stages. Lawyers representing some of the victims' families said they were "reassured" steps were being taken to consider the actions of management.

Organisations and companies can be found guilty of corporate manslaughter as a result of serious management failures resulting in a gross breach of a duty of care under The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.

Det Supt Simon Blackwell, of Cheshire Police, said the inquiry would focus on the indictment period of the charges for Letby from June 2015 to June 2016.

He said the investigation would consider areas "including senior leadership and decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place."

He added: "We recognise that this investigation will have a significant impact on a number of different stakeholders including the families in this case and we are continuing to work alongside and support them during this process."

Letby, originally from Hereford, lodged an appeal against her whole life order sentence In September.

She is due to face a retrial in 2024 on an outstanding charge of attempting to murder a baby girl.