Sorting by

×

Neonatal unit so busy it was ‘potentially dangerous’, says nurse accused of killing babies

A nurse accused of killing babies claimed that her neonatal unit was so busy it was “potentially dangerous” and staff wanted managers to send children to other hospitals, a court has heard.

Lucy Letby, 33, is standing trial for the alleged murders of seven children and the attempted murder of a further 10 while working at the Countess of Chester hospital between June 2015 and June 2016.

None of the children or their parents can be identified for legal reasons.

Giving evidence for a fourth day on Tuesday, Ms Letby told jurors that in November 2015, at the time she is alleged to have carried out an attack on Child J, the unit was so busy she believed there was a “safety implication.”

The court heard that Child J was a premature baby who was fitted with a stoma bag and was being cared for by a nursery nurse. Ms Letby told the jury that as a “Band 4”, the nursery nurse was not qualified to look after a baby that required stoma care.

A police van parked outside Manchester Crown Court, where the Lucy Letby murder trial is due to take place. She has pleaded not guilty to murdering eight babies and the attempted murder of ten babies, between June 2015 and June 2016 while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester. Picture date: Tuesday October 4, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Babies. Photo credit should read: Steve Allen/PA Wire
A police van outside Manchester Crown Court, where the trial is taking place (Photo: Steve Allen/PA)

Asked why she believed the nursery nurse was allocated to care for Child J, Ms Letby said: “I think the unit was very busy and we had to use staff where we could.”

The court was told that Ms Letby sent a text message to a colleague saying that nursery nurses should not be taking “responsibility for things that they have no training or experience” for, adding: “Don’t think they appreciate the potential difficulties.”

She told the jury at Manchester Crown Court: “It’s a safety implication if they don’t have the experience to know what they are looking for when dealing with stomas. It’s potentially dangerous.”

The court was shown another text message Ms Letby sent to a friend where she discussed being telephoned for advice on administering medicine to a baby while she was off-duty.

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Lucy Letby appearing in the dock at Manchester Crown Court where she is charged with the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of another ten, between June 2015 and June 2016 while working on the neonatal unit of the Countess of Chester Hospital. Picture date: Monday October 10, 2022. PA Photo. See PA story COURTS Babies. Photo credit should read: Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire
A court sketch of Lucy Letby in the dock at Manchester Crown Court last year (Image: Elizabeth Cook/PA)

In it she described the situation at the Countess of Chester at the time as “a nightmare.”

Asked by her defence barrister, Ben Myers KC, to explain what she meant, Ms Letby said: “The amount of babies we had on the unit at the time and the amount of care they needed. We felt we should have started sending babies to other hospitals.”

The court heard that during a shift on the night of 26 November, Child J collapsed twice and was struggling to breathe.

Prosecutors have alleged that Ms Letby was responsible, possibly by way of smothering.

Speaking from the witness box, Ms Letby denied having any involvement with Child J’s care on the night in question. Ms Letby told jurors she could not be sure she was even in the unit at the time of the alleged attack.

The court evidence shows that Ms Letby had left the unit and re-entered on a number of occasions during her shift. “I would go in and out of the unit frequently if needed,” she said.

The data shows only when staff enter the unit and not when they leave it, the court heard.

Child J survived the night in question.

Ms Letby denies 22 charges in total. The trial continues.

Source link

Related Articles

Back to top button