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06th Jul 2018

Nurse suspected of murdering eight babies released on bail

'This is an extremely difficult time for all the families.'

Anna O'Rourke

Nurse suspected of murdering eight babies released on bail

The nurse at the centre of a murder investigation in the UK has been released on bail.

Lucy Letby, 28, was questioned by police for three days before she was bailed, according to The Guardian.

She was arrested by police earlier this week as part of an investigation into the deaths of 17 babies and the non-fatal collapse of 15 more at Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester in the north-west of England.

Ms Letby is suspected of murdering eight infants and attempting to murder another six infants.

She worked in the hospital’s neonatal unit since 2011.

Nurse suspected of murdering eight babies released on bail

“This is an extremely difficult time for all the families,” Cheshire Police said.

“We continue to recognise that this investigation has a huge impact on all of the families, staff, and patients at the hospital as well as members of the public.

“Parents of all the babies continue to be kept fully updated and are being supported throughout the process by specially trained officers.”

Police were this week seen at her home near the hospital and at her parents’ home. They are believed to be searching her car as well as the house.

A source within the British National Health Service (NHS) told The Telegraph that Ms Letby had been moved into an administrative role at the hospital in late 2016.

Nurse suspected of murdering eight babies released on bail

“They moved her into admin, they didn’t move her to another nursing position,” the source said.

“If they did think she was suspicious why didn’t they suspend her?”

Her arrest came after an investigation was carried out at the neo-natal unit at the hospital.

Police began inquiries after a high number of deaths at the hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.