Emergency care services at the hospital where Lucy Letby worked are severely subpar, failing to meet legal standards according to the healthcare oversight body. Common occurrences include providing care in corridors and significant shortcomings in the treatment of sepsis.
The Countess of Chester hospital, located in northwest England, received an urgent caution from regulators after several violations related to emergency care were observed.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) deemed the Accident & Emergency department as “inadequate” and the overall service as needing enhancement.
Letby, a former nurse on the neonatal unit, is currently imprisoned for 15 life sentences after being found guilty of murdering seven infants and attempting to kill seven more between 2015 and 2016.
The 35-year-old has appealed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to examine her case in the hopes of overturning her conviction.
During inspections, observers noted unsanitary equipment, inadequate infection control measures, overcrowding, extended handover times, and corridor care that compromised patient dignity and safety.
The 42-page report, set to be released soon, highlighted significant flaws in the hospital’s sepsis treatment and mental health risk assessments. Data from June 2024 showed only 59% of sepsis patients received treatment within an hour, far below the target of 84%.
Karen Knapton, a deputy director at CQC, pointed out that the hospital had not addressed previous concerns about its emergency services which continued to endanger patients.
She added that patients often had prolonged waits in ambulances due to the department’s limited capacity and that individuals suspected of having sepsis did not always receive appropriate treatment.
Staff shortages and high patient volumes resulted in corridor care becoming a standard practice. Patients with complex conditions, such as learning disabilities or mental health issues, frequently faced extended wait times, which worsen their overall experience.
Jane Tomkinson, the CEO of Countess of Chester NHS foundation trust, expressed disappointment over the CQC rating and assured immediate action.
“While we have seen improvements, it’s evident that over the past 12 months our efforts need to be intensified to provide the care and experience that our patients deserve,” she stated.
“We remain focused on tackling longstanding issues and are committed to supporting our teams to ensure lasting improvements in our services.”
