Health inspectors were not told of concerns about unexplained deaths at a hospital’s neonatal unit where Lucy Letby worked, a public inquiry has heard.
A team from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) watchdog carried out a routine inspection of the Countess of Chester Hospital over four days in February 2016.
During that period, serial killer nurse Letby attempted to murder a baby girl, Child K, by dislodging her breathing tube on 17 February.
The Thirlwall Inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding Letby’s crimes.
Letby, 34, from Hereford, was given 15 whole life jail terms for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others between June 2015 and June 2016.
The inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall heard that in early February 2016 an external “thematic” review into 10 deaths on the unit in 2015 and January 2016 noted “some of the babies suddenly and unexpectedly deteriorated and there was no clear cause for the deterioration/death identified”.
It also found six babies had cardiac arrests between midnight and 04:00 GMT but it concluded no common theme had been found in all of the cases examined.
CQC inspector Helen Cain, told the inquiry she was unaware of the review at the time of her visit and would have asked questions about it if she had known.
Counsel to the inquiry, Craig Carr, said: “There was no discussion of incidents of unexplained and unexpected deaths at all?
“No,” replied Ms Cain.
Mr Carr said: “What is your explanation for the failure [of the CQC] to detect some of those concerns?”
Ms Cain said: “I think some of it is the data.
“There is always a lag with data and sources of data so I think that is a consideration.
“And I think very much with the on-site inspection you can ask a lot of open questions, a lot of general questions, but you are very much reliant on people’s responses.”
She said none of the interviewees, which included consultants and nursing managers, had raised concerns about increased neonatal mortality or unexplained and unexpected deaths.
The inquiry, sitting at Liverpool Town Hall, is expected to sit until early 2025, with findings published by late autumn of that year.
