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Adam GoldsmithLive reporter<\/p>\n
Years after seven babies died, government promises to follow recommendations for changepublished at 17:56 BST 15 September<\/p>\n
17:56 BST 15 September<\/p>\n
Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter<\/p>\n
The government says it will look at a series of recommendations, including plans for live-streaming monitors on cots in neonatal wards, after the Thirlwall Inquiry found some baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital could have been prevented.<\/p>\n
Former nurse Lucy Letby is serving 15 whole-life prison terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more at the hospital between 2015-16. She has twice been denied permission to appeal against her 2023 conviction.<\/p>\n
Lady Justice Thirlwall said in her report it would never be possible to say for certain exactly how many lives could have been saved, but said there was a \u201ccomplete failure to protect babies on the neonatal unit\u201d. <\/p>\n
The hospital has apologised and stressed it is a “different organisation today” with better governance and safety processes.<\/p>\n
For the NHS, today must be a turning point<\/a>, Health Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Commons.<\/p>\n Our earlier post describes<\/a> changes including “urgently” developing plans for cot cameras and a new NHS hub responsible for tracking how inquiry advice is implemented.<\/p>\n Ultimately, a lawyer for several of the babies’ families said<\/a>, today’s report “paints a damning picture of what happens when concerns over patient safety are not listened to or acted on”. <\/p>\n While Lucy Letby might be the only person criminally liable for the babies’ deaths, Our reporter in Liverpool writes<\/a>, the Thirlwall report expands the footprint of blame to include managers and the health care service more widely.<\/p>\n