Inquiry Examines Neonatal Deaths Linked to Letby

During the Thirlwall Inquiry into Lucy Letby’s crimes, expert statistician Sir David Spiegelhalter assessed the spike in neonatal deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015, which saw eight deaths compared to a consistent average of 2.4 per year from 2010 to 2014. He indicated that while this increase warranted a local investigation, it was not statistically extreme enough to be considered an outlier on a national scale, as such events could be expected to occur elsewhere in the UK. Letby, convicted of murdering seven infants, worked at the hospital during this period and was linked to the unexpected rise in deaths, which prompted scrutiny from medical staff. Spiegelhalter emphasized that mere increases in numbers do not imply a special cause, underscoring the need for careful statistical analysis. Critics of the prosecution have raised concerns about the interpretation of data in Letby’s trial, suggesting it may have contributed to a miscarriage of justice. Letby maintains her innocence as she serves 15 life sentences for her crimes.