LUCY LETBY SHOCKER: As three former senior staff from her hospital arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with baby deaths

Three former senior staff at the hospital where nurse Lucy Letby murdered seven babies and attempted to kill seven others have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

All three suspects worked on the senior leadership team at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016 and were bailed after being questioned on Monday.

The arrests came after an investigation into potential corporate manslaughter at the hospital was opened in 2023, and then widened in March this year to include gross negligence manslaughter.

Cheshire Police said the case does not have any impact on Letby's 2023 convictions for murder and attempted murder.

Letby, 35, is serving 15 whole life prison sentences after targeting babies at the hospital's neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016.

Det Supt Paul Hughes said the corporate manslaughter element of the investigation focused on the senior leadership of the hospital and its decision-making, "to determine whether any criminality has taken place concerning the response to the increased levels of fatalities".

He said gross negligence manslaughter was a separate offence and "focuses on the grossly negligent action or inaction of individuals".

Adam Jones, Legal Expert at HD Claims, said: "These arrests represent a pivotal moment in the legal fallout from one of the most harrowing cases in recent NHS history.

"While Lucy Letby has rightly been held accountable, this new investigation turns the spotlight on the senior leadership team and whether their actions—or lack of action - enabled a dangerous environment to persist.

"Gross negligence manslaughter is not a charge brought lightly. It carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, although sentencing guidelines typically range from several years to over a decade in custody depending on the level of culpability, harm caused, and aggravating factors.

"In this case, the fact that multiple infant deaths occurred under their oversight could be viewed as extremely serious in the eyes of the court, if guilt is proven.

"This is more than just a legal matter, it’s about institutional accountability. If it emerges that managers ignored warnings or failed to act decisively to protect vulnerable babies, then the justice system will likely seek a strong deterrent sentence. It sends a clear message: senior roles come with serious legal responsibilities, and turning a blind eye can be as dangerous as the act itself."