Lucy Letby public inquiry report further delayed

The final report from the public inquiry into how Lucy Letby was able to harm and murder babies at a neonatal unit has been further delayed.

The former nurse, now 35, is serving 15 whole-life terms after she was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, with two attempts on one of her victims, between June 2015 and June 2016.

Lady Justice Thirlwall previously announced she hoped her findings from the inquiry into the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital would be released this month. She later revised that estimate to early next year.

The latest information on the Thirlwall Inquiry website states it is now due “after Easter 2026”.

The statement reads: “The inquiry has written to core participants with an update on the timetable for the final report. Work on the report is ongoing, and publication is scheduled for after Easter 2026.

“A further update on the timetable will be provided at the end of February 2026.”

Letby, originally from Hereford, was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which investigates potential miscarriages of justice, is considering evidence presented on Letby’s behalf by an international panel of medics who claimed poor medical care and natural causes were instead responsible.

Lawyers for the families of Letby’s victims have dismissed the panel’s conclusions as “full of analytical holes” and “a rehash” of the defence case that had already been considered and rejected in court.

In July, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had received evidence from Cheshire Constabulary about further allegations related to deaths and collapses of babies at both the Countess of Chester Hospital and at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where Letby worked as a trainee.

The CPS said it would “carefully consider the evidence” before deciding whether any further charges would be brought.

Police have said separate corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter investigations are continuing.

Letby, who has always maintained her innocence, lost two bids last year to challenge her convictions at the Court of Appeal.