Doctor Helped Lucy Letby Get a Job at Another Hospital While She Was Suspected of Murder

A doctor who sent more than 1,000 Facebook messages to Lucy Letby helped her get a new job at another hospital, even though she was suspected of killing babies. The doctor, known as Dr. U, said he tried to support Letby because she was struggling with her mental health. However, he now believes he was misled.

Background of the Inquiry

Dr. U told a public inquiry that he began messaging Letby in June 2016, a year after she killed her first baby at the Countess of Chester Hospital. At that time, senior doctors suspected that Letby was harming babies and asked that she be removed from the hospital’s neonatal unit.

Over 1,000 Messages Exchanged

Rachel Langdale KC, who represents the inquiry, revealed that Dr. U exchanged 1,355 Facebook messages with Letby. The messages ranged from casual chats to inappropriate conversations about newborn patients.

Doctor Claims He Was Misled

Dr. U explained that he began messaging Letby to support her because she seemed anxious and wasn’t sleeping well. He said, “I picked up on her mental health issues and tried to help.” The messages were sent throughout the day, late at night, and early in the morning.

Inappropriate Support for Letby

After Letby was removed from the neonatal unit in July 2016, Dr. U sent her a message saying, “You’re still the best neonatal nurse I’ve ever worked with.” He also told her that if anyone questioned her abilities, she should let him know so he could defend her.

Doctor Shared Confidential Information

The inquiry also heard that Dr. U gave Letby confidential details about investigations into the unexpected deaths of babies in the neonatal unit. He said he did this to comfort her but now realizes it was a huge mistake. He admitted that the parents of the babies would likely find his actions very upsetting.

Regrets and Apologies from Dr. U

Dr. U reflected on his actions, “I wasn’t aware of the full situation at the time, and I believe I was misled. I deeply regret what happened, and I am truly sorry.” He mentioned that he has thought about this daily since his first police interview in 2018.

Letby’s Job at Another Hospital

In January 2017, Dr. U helped Letby get a placement at another hospital despite concerns about her behavior. She had been moved to a desk job due to suspicions that she was harming babies, but Dr. U managed to secure her a new role.

Hospital Not Aware of Letby’s Background

The inquiry heard a statement from a hospital executive, who said Dr. U’s request to place Letby was informal, and senior managers didn’t know about her background. As a result, no one looked into her history before allowing her to work there.

Letby’s Relationship with Dr. U

During her trial, Letby denied that she was in a romantic relationship with Dr. U, saying she “loved him as a friend.” She became emotional when Dr. U testified for the prosecution in court.

Complaint Against Dr. U

Last month, the inquiry was told that the mother of one of Letby’s victims had complained about Dr. U. She accused him of discussing her baby’s condition on Facebook, which she felt was a serious breach of confidentiality. The mother filed a complaint with the hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) but has not received an update.

Letby’s Sentence

Lucy Letby is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. She was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more between June 2015 and June 2016.

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