Hospital bosses have “silenced” concerns from senior doctors that Lucy Letby could murder babies in a neonatal unit, a retired police chief has told a public inquiry.

Former Det Supt. Nigel Wenham has praised consultant pediatricians at the Countess of Chester Hospital for exposing the serial killer nurse.

Letby was transferred to office duties in July 2016 after two triplet boys died several days in a row.

Cheshire Police were only called by the hospital in May 2017, and there were plans shortly before to bring Letby back to the unit.

The public inquiry, chaired by High Court judge Lady Justice Thirlwall, is examining the circumstances surrounding Letby’s crimes.

Mr Wenham, who worked on the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), said he was not aware until March 2017 of the increase in infant deaths in the unit over the two previous years.

He attended a CDOP meeting at the hospital with pediatricians and executives in late April 2017 at which concerns were outlined, the investigation heard.

Consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram was quoted as saying at the meeting: “A particular nurse used to leave at night…and no incident happened at night. »

However, medical director Ian Harvey was quoted as saying: “Full time nurse, overtime, splitting sick and sick babies” and “very hot unit, staff working under pressure”.

Investigating barrister Rachel Langdale KC asked: “What was your impression of this meeting, did you appreciate the breadth of views?

Mr Wenham said: ‘Perhaps the management team were a little happier with how things were being handled, whereas some doctors present were clearly concerned.’

The investigation found that Mr Wenham felt executives were “trying to shut the doors on the investigation while it was being investigated”.

He recalled a “powerful meeting” with consultants Dr Jayaram, Dr Stephen Brearey and Dr Susie Holt on May 15, 2017.

He said: “They had a degree of frustration with how they felt this situation had been reached.

“Many of the doctors involved raised their concerns on several occasions but, unfortunately, they were shut down.”

Letby, 34, from Hereford, is serving 15 life sentences after being found guilty at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.

The inquest, which is taking place at Liverpool Town Hall before Lady Justice Thirlwall, is expected to last until early 2025, with the findings published in late autumn that year.