Lucy Letby inquiry to be led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, health secretary confirms

Lucy Letby inquiry to be led by Lady Justice Thirlwall, Steven Barclay confirmsPA

Transcript

00:00 On the day of conviction, I ordered an independent inquiry into the events at the Countess of

00:06 Chester Hospital, making clear the victims' families would shape this. I arranged with

00:12 the police liaison officers to meet these families at the earliest possible opportunity

00:17 to discuss with them the options for the form the inquiry should take. It was clear their

00:23 wishes were for a statutory inquiry with the power to compel witnesses to give evidence

00:30 under oath. And that's why I am confirming this to the House today. This inquiry will

00:38 examine the case's wider circumstances, including the Trust's response to clinicians who raised

00:44 the alarm, and the conduct of the wider NHS and its regulators. And I can confirm to the

00:51 House that Lady Justice Thirwell will lead this inquiry. She is one of the country's

00:59 most senior judges, currently sitting in the Court of Appeal, and with many years of experience

01:05 as a senior judge and a senior barrister before that. Before making this statement, I informed

01:12 the victim families of her appointment, which was made following conversations with the

01:17 the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Chancellor and the Attorney-General.