The Nursing and Midwifery Council has confirmed it will proceed with a fitness to practise investigation into Lucy Letby’s former manager.
The former nursing director at the hospital trust where Lucy Letby was employed has also been suspended from her current role, following concerns about her handling of clinicians’ concerns.
Alison Kelly, who was a senior manager in charge of nursing at the Countess of Cheshire Hospital during the time in which Lucy Letby murdered seven babies, has been accused of ignoring concerns about Letby’s behaviour.
Ms Kelly has been suspended from the role of director of nursing at Rochdale Care Organisation, part of Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, ‘in light of information’ that has emerged during the trial.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) confirmed that Ms Kelly had been referred to the regulator’s fitness to practise process. However, this procedure had been temporarily paused until the outcome of the trial at the request of the police.
Now the trial has concluded, the NMC said it will now proceed with the concerns raised and take regulatory action if appropriate.
This comes after Letby received a whole life sentence on Monday for the murder of seven babies and attempted murder of six others.
During the trial the court heard how Letby injected babies with air, poisoned with insulin, and force fed milk.
It was also alleged that Ms Kelly and a number of other senior managers failed to act when clinicians raised concerns about her.
Nicky Clarke, chief people officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘I can confirm Alison Kelly has been suspended.
‘We are unable to comment any further at this moment in time.’
Following the verdict of Letby’s trial, the government announced that it would launch a non-statutory inquiry into the wider circumstances surrounding the crimes.
The inquiry will examine how concerns raised by clinicians were dealt with and will invite the families of victims to engage and shape the investigation, according to the government.
Additionally, the inquiry will look at what actions were taken by regulators and the wider NHS during the time of the crimes.
An NHS England spokesperson said: ‘We welcome the independent inquiry announced by the Department of Health and Social Care into the events at the Countess of Chester and will cooperate fully to help ensure all lessons are learned.
‘In light of information that has emerged during the trial of Lucy Letby, and the announcement of the independent inquiry, the Northern Care Alliance has suspended Alison Kelly.’
