A hospital boss has detailed shocking threats from the father of convicted child killer Lucy Letby during testimony at the Thirlwall Inquiry. Tony Chambers, the former chief executive of the Countess of Chester Hospital, stated he felt he was under severe pressure from John Letby, Lucy's father, who allegedly threatened him by saying he would hold "guns to my head" during a contentious meeting about his daughter's future at the hospital.
The testimony revealed insights from December 2016 when John Letby became visibly distressed and confrontational during discussions surrounding his daughter, who was under investigation for the murder and attempted murder of infants. Chambers, leading the trust at the time, expressed his intentions to support his staff and the families affected, but admitted to the inquiry, "Letby's father was very angry, he was making threats, which would have just made an already difficult situation even worse."
This turbulent incident unfolded against the backdrop of growing concerns about Lucy Letby’s behavior on the neonatal unit, where she had been implicated in the deaths of multiple babies. Despite these alarming alarms, police were not contacted until 2017, after Chambers had encouraged Letby to return to work following her grievance against senior doctors raising concerns about her actions.
Upon questioning by inquiry counsel Nicholas de la Poer KC, Chambers continued to assert he did not discourage police investigations, saying: "Absolutely not," when asked about trying to prevent the police from taking action. Yet his statements were juxtaposed against evidence showing how he believed the hospital board was addressing the issues adequately at the time.
Leading the inquiry, de la Poer pressed Chambers on whether he recognized how severely cut the charges would become, especially when prominent doctors within the hospital were raising serious red flags about Lucy Letby. Chambers recounted his shock upon hearing the gravity of the concerns raised by senior paediatricians and confirmed, "This was very shocking to hear. I have always felt the concerns they were raising were based on their honest beliefs."
John Letby's threats appeared to complicate the hospital's ability to handle the allegations effectively. Chambers noted how the meeting with the Letby family had been uncomfortable, especially as John Letby demanded answers with frustration and apparent hostility. During their talks, John expressed his grievances about his daughter's treatment at the trust, indicating how the family felt her career was unfairly sabotaged.
During the inquiry, Chambers took responsibility for the failures within the trust but insisted any systemic breakdowns were not solely on him. He reflected, "I wholeheartedly accept... there were missed opportunities to take early steps to identify what was happening," even though he continually emphasized the complexity involving multiple layers of governance.
Lucy Letby was eventually convicted of murdering seven newborns and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. She was sentenced to multiple life terms without the possibility of parole, making her one of the most notorious figures in the current healthcare crisis surrounding these events.
Chambers also offered heartfelt condolences to the families affected by his trust’s failures, emphasizing the lifelong impact these tragic events would have on their lives. He told the inquiry, "I can't express how deeply sorry I am for the pain these families have endured due to decisions taken by the trust during this period."
Throughout his testimony, the inquiry has been delving deep to understand how Letby was able to operate without proper oversight, and the systemic failures contributing to these horrendous acts. Chambers remarked on this pressing concern, noting the immediate and significant need to improve how hospitals communicate, both internally and externally, especially with families who trust these institutions to safeguard their loved ones.
During earlier discussions at the inquiry, some members of Letby’s former nursing team openly discussed feeling bullied by senior staff for expressing concerns they had about her practices. This deeply troubling dynamic seems to have contributed to the culture of silence surrounding the accusations against her, which would eventually culminate in horror as the truth unfolded.
The inquiry is expected to draw connections between Lucy Letby’s troubling actions and the overarching culture within the NHS, as it investigates how junior staff can be silenced when attempting to challenge the status quo, especially against more senior colleagues.
The Thirlwall Inquiry aims to provide transparency and accountability for the victims' families by examining how such horrors occurred within the neonatal unit. The inquiry is expected to continue its sessions, hoping to bring closure to many families affected by this tragic series of events.
