In a public inquiry examining the NHS response to a serial killer at the Countess of Chester Hospital, shocking revelations have emerged about the nickname given to the convicted murderer, Lucy Letby. According to the Thirlwall inquiry, junior doctors referred to Letby as "Nurse Death". Letby, who was recently convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder another seven between June 2015 and June 2016, had apparently become a cause for concern among medical staff at the hospital.

During the hearings, Nicholas de la Poer KC, speaking on behalf of the counsel for the inquiry, informed the investigation that Letby had even attempted to murder one of the babies during a hospital inspection. The revelation adds to the already chilling details surrounding this case. The inquiry also heard that Letby was considered the "common denominator" by paediatricians who were investigating the increased baby deaths.

Ian Harvey, the medical director at the trust, expressed his concerns about Letby during an interview with an external review team back in September 2016. Notes from the interview shared at the inquiry revealed that Letby was seen as the "elephant in the room" by the paediatricians. Harvey's notes also mentioned the alarming nickname "Nurse Death" that the junior doctors had given to Letby, causing disruptions within the team.

The inquiry further shed light on the lack of action taken by the hospital and regulatory bodies. Cheshire Police was only contacted regarding the case in May 2017, despite concerns being raised earlier. Additionally, the Countess of Chester Hospital failed to make referrals to other regulatory agencies including the Nursing and Midwifery Council. It wasn't until an informal meeting between the trust and senior Cheshire Police officers in April 2017 that the seriousness of the situation was recognized, with Letby being referred to as the "angel of death".

Detective Chief Superintendent Nigel Wenham from Cheshire Police revealed that a meeting with consultants from the neonatal unit on May 17, 2017, proved to be a turning point. During this meeting, the consultants elaborated on their suspicions surrounding the deaths, prompting the police to launch a criminal investigation later that day.

The inquiry also touched on the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the healthcare watchdog responsible for inspecting the hospital. It was revealed that during the inspection, which coincided with Letby's attempt to murder a baby, concerns about neonatal mortality were not properly addressed. The fact that CQC inspectors failed to delve deeper into these concerns has raised questions regarding their handling of the situation.

Furthermore, the inquiry highlighted that regional hospital bosses had failed to notice a significant increase in infant mortality rates at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The stark difference in the data, which could have potentially saved lives, went unnoticed until brought to light in the course of the inquiry.

The Thirlwall inquiry continues its investigation into the NHS response to this horrific case, with hopes of uncovering any systemic issues that may have contributed to the tragedy. It is crucial that lessons are learned to ensure the safety and well-being of patients in the future.