Three Former Hospital Leaders Arrested for Gross Negligence Manslaughter Linked to Lucy Letby Baby Murders in the UK

Lucy Letby was found guilty of the murder of seven babies

Three former senior leaders at the Countess of Chester Hospital have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the deaths that occurred during Lucy Letby’s time working in the neonatal unit.

The arrests mark a significant development in the criminal investigation surrounding one of the UK’s most shocking healthcare scandals. The unnamed individuals were in key leadership roles at the hospital between 2015 and 2016, the same period during which Letby murdered seven infants and attempted to murder seven more. All three have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

An investigation was launched into the senior leadership team following Letby's arrest

Lucy Letby, 35, was convicted in 2023 for carrying out a series of horrific attacks on newborns under her care, making her the most prolific child serial killer in modern British history. She is currently serving her sentence at HMP Bronzefield, a high-security women’s prison in Ashford, Surrey.

Following her conviction, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into potential corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital. That investigation has since expanded to include gross negligence manslaughter, focusing on whether senior hospital officials failed in their duty of care.

Detective Superintendent Paul Hughes, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Duet, confirmed the arrests and outlined the scope of the inquiry. “In October 2023, following the lengthy trial and subsequent conviction of Lucy Letby, Cheshire Constabulary launched an investigation into corporate manslaughter at the Countess of Chester Hospital,” he said. “This focuses on senior leadership and their decision making to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities.”

The three members of the leadership team who were arrested have been bailed

He added, “In March 2025, the scope of the investigation widened to also include gross negligence manslaughter. This is a separate offence and focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals.”

Hughes emphasized that the arrests do not affect Letby’s convictions, which remain legally sound and are not under review in connection to this latest development. The broader investigation into baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women’s Hospital between 2012 and 2016 remains active and ongoing.

Letby’s case has prompted fierce debate within the medical community. A number of medical experts have released reports suggesting she may have been wrongly convicted, but these assertions have been strongly contested by fellow clinicians, law enforcement, and the families of the victims.

The Countess of Chester Hospital has come under intense scrutiny since Letby's crimes came to light, with multiple inquiries examining whether hospital executives could have prevented further deaths by acting sooner on internal warnings and rising concerns from staff.