Police launch probe into Lucy Letby hospital for corporate manslaughter after killer nurse murdered seven babies

POLICE are investigating the hospital where killer nurse Lucy Letby worked for corporate manslaughter.

Letby, 33, murdered seven babies and attempted to kill six others in a year-long reign of terror at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

She was handed a whole life order last month that means she will never be released from prison.

Cheshire Police today confirmed they are investigating the hospital for corporate manslaughter.

The force said the period being probed is when Letby worked in the neo-natal ward between June 2015 to June 2016.

It will examine areas such as senior leadership and decision making to “determine whether any criminality has taken place”.

Detective Superintendent Simon Blackwell said: “At this stage we are not investigating any individuals in relation to gross negligence manslaughter.

“The investigation is in the very early stages and we are unable to go into any further details or answer specific questions at this time.

“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.

“You will be notified of any further updates in due course.”

Between 2015 and 2016, two babies on the neo-natal unit were “deliberately” poisoned with insulin, which was “no accident”.

Some of the other babies were killed or harmed when air or milk was injected into their bloodstream or via a tube in their stomachs.

Letby became a prime suspect when the number of baby deaths and catastrophic collapses at the hospital significantly rose.

Consultants grew concerned when they realised the children who died had “deteriorated unexpectedly”.

The nurse was found to be the “common denominator” among the deaths and collapses.

An independent inquiry has been ordered by the government that will examine how concerns raised by doctors were dealt with and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.