Thirlwall Inquiry Finds Babies Could Have Been Saved From Lucy Letby

The Thirlwall Inquiry has concluded that some of the babies murdered by Lucy Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital could have been saved if safeguarding procedures had been properly followed. The report, published on September 15, 2026, found a series of institutional failures that allowed the former neonatal nurse to harm infants between June 2015 and June 2016. Letby, 36, is serving 15 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. The inquiry, led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, did not review her convictions but examined how the hospital's management and staff responded to concerns. The report identified specific missed opportunities. For example, a doctor ignored a high insulin result for Baby F in August 2015, which could have prompted a safeguarding review. Another doctor failed to act when he saw Letby failing to halt the collapse of Baby K. The inquiry stated that had these actions been taken, subsequent attacks could have been prevented. Lady Justice Thirlwall described "dysfunctional management" and a "gulf between hospital leadership and clinicians.