Murder arrest after baby deaths at Countess of Chester Hospital

Liverpool Women's Hospital has confirmed that a nurse being held on suspicion over murder and attempted murder of babies in Chester also undertook work placements at its neonatal unit.

Lucy Letby, 28, is being held on a probe into the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of another six at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Officers are said to have arrived at the home of the nurse early on Tuesday, hours before police announced a female "healthcare professional" had been arrested in a probe into the deaths of 17 infants at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Detectives said they are also looking at 15 non-fatal collapses at the unit between March 2015 and July 2016.

Liverpool Women's Hospital have confirmed that they are co-operating with the Police as part of their investigation as Ms Letby undertook placements in the Neonatal Unit during her training. The Hospital said that currently there is 'no suggestion' that any patients at Liverpool Women's came to any harm.

The statement says:

• You can find the statement here.

The Medical Director at the Countess of Chester Hospital says staff 'want to get answers' for families and are continuing to support Cheshire Police with their ongoing investigation.

A female healthcare worker has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of eight babies and the attempted murder of another six after an investigation of the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Police have not confirmed if the arrested woman is a nurse, doctor or other health professional.

Ian Harvey said: "Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want.

"The Countess is now equivalent to a Level 1 special care baby unit and we are confident the unit is safe to continue in its current form."

The arrest comes as part of a long-running investigation following a high number of baby deaths at the hospital. Police have said the investigation had widened.