A senior paediatrician has revealed the chilling moment she confronted Lucy Letby about a baby's sudden collapse, in a haunting account that sheds new light on the serial killer nurse's time on the neonatal unit.
Dr Ravi Jayaram, who worked alongside Letby at the Countess of Chester Hospital, described the disturbing encounter that occurred before Letby was identified as Britain's most prolific child murderer.
The Fateful Question
"I remember walking into the nursery and seeing Lucy Letby standing over a baby who had suddenly deteriorated," Dr Jayaram recalled. "I looked at her and asked directly: 'What's going on here, Lucy?'"
Her response would later become etched in his memory as deeply unsettling. "She just looked at me and said, 'He's having a dip.' It was so calm, so matter-of-fact, while this tiny infant was fighting for his life."
A Pattern of Suspicion
The incident formed part of a growing pattern that had concerned senior medical staff. Dr Jayaram explained how multiple unexplained collapses always seemed to occur when Letby was on duty.
"We'd have healthy babies who suddenly deteriorated for no apparent reason. The statistics were screaming at us that this wasn't normal, but getting anyone to listen proved incredibly difficult."
Hospital Hierarchy Hampers Investigation
Medical staff faced significant obstacles when raising concerns about Letby. Dr Jayaram described the frustration of dealing with hospital management who seemed more concerned about reputation than patient safety.
"When we tried to escalate our worries, we were told not to make a fuss. There was a sense that we were causing trouble rather than trying to protect vulnerable babies."
The Aftermath and Lessons
Letby was eventually removed from the neonatal unit in 2016 and convicted in August 2023 of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others.
Dr Jayaram believes the case highlights systemic failures in the NHS that need urgent addressing. "We must create an environment where frontline staff can raise concerns without fear of reprisal. The lives of these babies deserve that legacy."
The case has prompted widespread calls for a public inquiry and reforms to hospital governance structures to prevent similar tragedies occurring in future.
