Lucy Letby is a former neonatal nurse who was convicted in the UK of murdering babies in her care and attempting to murder several others while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Who Lucy Letby Is

Lucy Letby is a British former neonatal nurse who worked on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire, England. She was arrested after an unusual and disturbing pattern of collapses and deaths among premature and newborn babies on the unit raised serious alarms among doctors.

What She Was Convicted Of

In August 2023, a jury at Manchester Crown Court found Letby guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others between 2015 and 2016. In a later retrial in 2024, she was also found guilty of attempting to murder another premature baby, known in court as Baby K (or Child K), by dislodging the baby’s breathing tube.

Because of the severity of the crimes, she was sentenced to life imprisonment with a “whole life order,” meaning she will never be released from prison. Judges described her actions as a cruel , calculated campaign against some of the most vulnerable infants under her care.

How She Attacked the Babies

The prosecution said Letby used medical means to harm babies in ways that could at first look like medical complications. Methods described in court included:

  • Injecting air into babies’ bloodstreams (air embolism), which can stop the heart or cause sudden collapse.
  • Injecting air or milk into feeding tubes in dangerous amounts, causing collapse or death.
  • Administering excess insulin to cause life-threatening low blood sugar.
  • Deliberately dislodging breathing tubes in extremely premature babies dependent on ventilation, as in the case of Baby K.

In the Baby K retrial, a doctor testified that he found the baby’s oxygen levels dropping, her breathing tube dislodged, and Letby standing by without taking action or raising the alarm.

Why She Was Suspected

Doctors on the unit began to notice that many unexplained collapses or deaths seemed to happen when Letby was on shift. An internal review of incidents found a striking overlap between serious events and her presence, prompting deeper investigations and eventually police involvement.

Evidence presented at trial included:

  • Statistical clustering of deaths and collapses during her shifts.
  • Medical evidence of air embolism, unexplained insulin in blood samples, and unusual patterns in medical records.
  • Nursing handover sheets found at her home that she was not supposed to have taken.
  • Messages to colleagues that prosecutors said showed an “intrusive curiosity” about the events and a desire to remain in intensive care roles.

Her Response and Appeals

Letby has consistently denied harming any babies, maintaining that she is innocent. Her defence suggested that the deaths could be explained by natural causes, hospital failings, or systemic issues in the neonatal unit rather than deliberate attacks.

The case remains legally and publicly active, with:

  • Ongoing discussion of appeals and legal reviews of the convictions.
  • Inquests opened in early 2026 into the deaths of some of the babies to examine the wider circumstances within the hospital.

Why It’s Still in the News Now

As of early 2026, the case is still a major topic in the UK and internationally because of its scale and the unusual setting—a neonatal unit meant to save the smallest and sickest babies. Recent developments include:

  • Formal inquests into several of the babies’ deaths starting in February 2026, which will explore what happened around each death and the hospital’s response.
  • A Netflix documentary, “The Investigation of Lucy Letby,” released in 2026, which has reignited debates about the evidence, possible miscarriages of justice, and how the NHS handled doctors’ early warnings.

Some commentators focus on her as one of the most prolific child killers in modern British history, while others question aspects of the evidence and call for careful scrutiny of the convictions.

Impact on the Hospital and System

The case has led to intense scrutiny of the Countess of Chester Hospital and the wider NHS. Key issues raised include:

  • Whether managers ignored or suppressed doctors’ concerns about a potential killer on the unit.
  • How hospitals track unusual death patterns and escalate concerns to external investigators.
  • The emotional and psychological impact on families and staff who trusted the unit.

Reviews and reports have urged reforms in whistleblowing procedures and clinical governance to make it easier for staff to raise “unthinkable” concerns without being silenced.

If You’re Reading About This Online

Because the case is so shocking, online discussions—especially on forums and social media—can mix solid reporting, speculation, and sometimes conspiracy theories. It’s important to distinguish:

  • Confirmed facts: court verdicts, official statements, and inquest findings.
  • Allegations or theories: debates over the statistics, alternative medical explanations, or claims of wrongful conviction.

If you’re digging deeper, focus on reputable news outlets, court reports, and official documents, and treat heavily opinionated threads or blogs with caution.

Is your main interest the factual timeline of the case, or are you more interested in the current debates (like possible appeals, the Netflix documentary, or hospital accountability)?