Mother's Concerns Dismissed Before Baby's Death at Chester Hospital
A mother's worries about her newborn were ignored at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where Lucy Letby later murdered the infant. The Thirlwall Inquiry heard testimony about multiple care failures.
The Thirlwall Inquiry has revealed disturbing details about the events leading to the death of an infant at the Countess of Chester Hospital in June 2015. Lucy Letby, a former nurse, was convicted of murdering the baby, known as Baby D, in the neonatal intensive care unit.
According to testimony, the mother's concerns about her newborn's condition were dismissed by hospital staff. "Mother D," granted anonymity by the inquiry, described her daughter as "floppy" and unresponsive shortly after birth. A doctor, whose identity was not disclosed, reportedly smirked and dismissed these concerns, stating the baby was fine.
The inquiry heard that the hospital failed to follow proper protocols during Mother D's admission. Despite the risk of infection due to premature rupture of membranes, antibiotics were not administered. The hospital also delayed agreeing to a C-section for nearly three days, despite the mother's requests.
"To me if I wasn't failed in the first place by the Countess in dozens of ways and all against the protocols and guidelines they should have followed, my daughter wouldn't have ended up in intensive care, I wouldn't have ended up poorly and destroyed and she wouldn't have ended up in a place where someone was preying on babies."
After birth, Baby D was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she was intubated and given oxygen, fluids, and antibiotics to treat an infection. Initially responding well to treatment, the infant suffered several collapses overnight. Lucy Letby was found guilty of causing these collapses by injecting air into the baby, with the third attack proving fatal.
Dr. Jane Hawdon, who reviewed the case, identified "major suboptimal care," including the failure to provide antibiotics to both mother and child. Dr. Dewi Evans, an expert witness during Letby's trial, concluded that the pattern of recovery and collapse was inconsistent with fatal pneumonia and likely resulted from an air embolism.
The inquiry also heard about Mother D's unease regarding Letby's presence. While initially not convinced of Letby's guilt, the mother recalled feeling uncomfortable with the nurse's behavior, noting her unnecessary presence and watchful demeanor.
In a victim impact statement, Mother D expressed her grief and guilt, questioning if she had failed her daughter. She called for apologies from the Countess of Chester Hospital to all affected families.
This case highlights the critical importance of listening to parental concerns in neonatal care and adhering to established medical protocols. It also underscores the devastating consequences of medical negligence and criminal actions in healthcare settings.
As the Thirlwall Inquiry continues, it aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the Letby case and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
