Lucy Letby: manager suspended at killer nurse’s hospital where seven babies died

Lucy Letby was working at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital when she went on her year-long killing spree, and she was sentenced to life behind bars today

A manager who had been in charge of nursing at Lucy Letby’s hospital has been suspended as the killer nurse was imprisoned for life for murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more.

Alison Kelly was in charge of nursing at the Countess of Chester Hospital when Letby murdered and seriously injured babies in her care. The senior manager had been working as nursing director at The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Salford.

A statement from Nicky Clarke, chief people officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I can confirm Alison Kelly has been suspended. We are unable to comment any further at this moment in time.” Ms Kelly, the then director of nursing and deputy chief executive, is amongst the managers of Countess of Chester Hospital who have come under fire, after colleagues of Letby tried to raise concerns about her.

The Telegraph reported that local politicians in the area were deeply concerned to learn she was still in a position of senior management. The outlet added that it was in July 2015, when Ms Kelly was first told that Letby was the only nurse on shift when three babies had died within two weeks of one another.