Lucy Letby Case 6 Wiki

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  • Contents

    Introduction

    This page contains evidence heard for child F (twin of child E).

    Lucy Letby Case page contains live reporting links and opening statements including opening statements for each child.

    Refer to Wiki Navigation to locate pages for other babies.

    Child F (twin)

    Count 6: Attempted murder allegation (insulin poisoning)

    Prosecution opening statement

    Background


    The prosecution say Child F was marginally the younger of the twins, and he required some resuscitation at birth and later intubated, ventilated and given a medicine to help his lungs. He was recorded as having 'high blood sugar' so was prescribed 'a tiny dose of insulin'. He had his breathing tube removed and was given some breathing support.

    Child F had small amounts of breast milk and given fluid nutrients via a long line.

    If it is known in advance that a baby cannot have milk and needs to be fed fluids then the TPN bag is prepared by the Aseptic Pharmacy Unit (APU) at the CoCH on receipt of a prescription.

    The pharmacy bag is delivered back to the ward and is bespoke, prepared for an individual patient.

    "If, for whatever reason, there is no need for a TPN bag, there are a couple of stock bags...kept in reserve."

    "As a matter of practice", insulin is "never" added to a TPN bag.

    Insulin is "given via its own infusion, usually in a syringe which delivers an automatic dose over a period of time".

    The prosecution adds insulin is not added to a TPN bag as it would "stick to the plastic - or bind" to the bag, making it difficult to accurately give a reliable dose.

    Incident


    Early on August 4, Child E had died. Later that day, the pharmacy received a prescription for a TPN bag for Child F, the twin brother.

    A confirmation document was printed, at 12.32pm, for Child F. The pharmacist produced a handwritten correction to say it was to be used within 48 hours of 11.30pm that day.

    The TPN bag was delivered up to the ward at 4pm that day.

    On that nght shift, the designated nurse for Child F, in room 2, was not Letby.

    Letby had a single baby to look after that night, also in room 2.

    There were seven babies in the unit that night, with five nurses working.

    Letby and the designated nurse signed the prescription chart to record the TPN bag was started and administered via a long line at 12.25am.

    A TPN chart is a written record for putting up the bags, and was used for Child F. It includes 'lipids' - nutrients for babies not being given milk.

    Letby signed for the TPN bag to be used for 48 hours.

    There are two further prescriptions for TPN bags, to run for 48 hours.

    Following the conclusion of a Letby night-shift, after the administration of a TPN bag Letby had co-signed for, a doctor instructed the nursing staff to stop the TPN via the longline and provide dextrose (sugar to counteract the fall in blood sugar), and move the TPN to a peripheral line while a new long line was put in.

    All fluids were interrupted at 11am while a new long line was put in.

    Child F's blood glucose increased, before falling back. A new bespoke TPN was made for Child F, delivered at 4pm.

    The prosecution say this could not have been the same one fitted to Child F at noon that day which would have been either a bespoke bag which Lucy Letby co-signed for, or a stock bag from the fridge.

    Mr Johnson said Child F's low blood sugar continued in the absence of Lucy Letby.

    Child F's blood sample at 5.56pm had a glucose level was very low, and after he was taken off the TPN and replaced with dextrose, his blood glucose levels returned to normal by 7.30pm. He had no further episodes of hypoglycaemia.

    "These episodes were sufficiently concerning" that medical staff checked Child F's blood plasma level. The 5.56pm sample recorded a "very high insulin measurement of 4,657".

    Child F's hormone level of C-peptide was very low - less than 169.

    The combination of the two levels, the prosecution say, means someone must have "been given or taken synthetic insulin" - "the only conclusion".

    "That, we say, means that somebody gave Child F synthetic insulin - somebody poisoned him."

    "All experienced medical and nursing members of staff would know the dangers of introducing insulin into any individual whose glucose values were within the normal range and would know that extreme hypoglycaemia, over a prolonged period of time, carries life threatening risks.

    "No other baby on the neonatal unit was prescribed insulin at the time."

    Mr Johnson: "To give Child F insulin someone would've had to access the locked fridge, use a needle and syringe to remove some insulin, or, if they didn't do it that way, go to the cotside and inject the insulin directly into the infant through the intravenous system, intramuscular injection, or - and this is what we say happened - via the TPN bag."

    Medical experts


    Medical experts Dr Dewi Evans and Dr Sandie Bohin said the hormone levels were consistent with insulin being put into the TPN bag prior to Child F's hypoglycaemic episode.

    "You know who was in the room, and you know who hung up the bag," Mr Johnson told the jury.

    Professor Peter Hindmarsh said the insulin "had to have gone in through the TPN bag" as the the hypoglycaemia "persisted for such a long time" despite five injections of 10% dextrose.

    Professor Hindmarsh said the following possibilities happened.

    That the same bag was transferred over the line, that the replacement stock bag was contaminated, or that some part of the 'giving set' was contaminated by insulin fron the first TPN bag which had bound to the plastic, and therefore continued to flow through the hardware even after a non-contaminated bag was attached.

    "There can be no doubt that somebody contaminated that original bag with insulin.

    "Because of that...the problem continued through the day."

    Police interviews


    Letby was interviewed by police in July 2018 about that night shift.

    She remembered Child F, but had no recollection of the incident and "had not been involved in his care".

    She was asked about the TPN bags chart. She said the TPN was kept in a locked fridge and the insulin was kept in that same fridge.

    She confirmed her signature on the TPN form.

    She had no recollection of having had involvement with administering the TPN bag contents to Child F, but confirmed giving Child F glucose injections and taken observations.

    She also confirmed signing for a lipid syringe at 12.10am, the shift before. The prosecution say she should have had someone to co-sign for it.

    "She accepted that the signature tended to suggest she had administered it."

    "Interestingly, at the end of this part of the interview she asked whether the police had access to the TPN bag that she had connected," Mr Johnson added.

    In a June 2019 police interview, Letby agreed with the idea that insulin would not be administered accidentally.

    Social media & text messages


    In November 2020, she was asked why she had searched for the parents of Child E and F. She said she thought it might be to see how Child F was doing.

    She was asked asked about texting Child F’s blood sugar levels to an off- duty colleague at 8am. She said she must have looked on his chart.

    Mr Johnson: "The fact it was done through the TPN bag tells you it wasn't a mistake - whoever was doing it was to avoid detection.

    "Only a few people had the opportunity.

    "We suggest there is only one credible candidate for the poisoning. The one who was present for all the unexpected collapses and deaths at the neonatal unit."

    Defence opening statement

    For Child F and Child L, the children allegedly poisoned with insulin, the defence "cannot say what has happened".

    "It is difficult to say if you don't know," Mr Myers said.

    "So much has been said about these. These are not simple allegations which can automatically lead to a conviction."

    The defence say Child F's TPN bag was put up by Letby in August 2015 and hours later there were blood sugar problems. That bag was replaced, in the absence of Letby, but the problems continued.

    The sample taken came from "the second bag", the defence say.

    A professor had given "three possible explanations", none of which identified Letby as a culprit.

    For Child L, there were issues with the documentation provided, so those are challenged, the defence say.

    There is "nothing to say" Letby was directly involved in the acts.

    Agreed Facts

    Sequence of events from records



    29 July 2015
    Child F was born on July 29, 2015, at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and had required some resuscitation at birth and was later intubated, ventilated and given medicine to help his lungs.

    31 July 2015
    On July 31, a high blood sugar reading was recorded for him, and he was prescribed a tiny dose of insulin to correct it. At this time his breathing tube was removed and he was given breathing support.

    4 August 2015
    In the early hours of August 4, Child E had died.

    5pm: Later that day, just before 5pm, a nursing note records family communication in which Child F's parents wish to transfer care to another hospital in the North West, but transport was unavailable due to an emergency. The note adds 'sincere apologies given to parents'.

    The court is now focusing on the nigth shift of August 4-5, in which the prosecution allege Child F was poisoned on this night.

    A staff shift rota shows Belinda Simcock was the shift leader, with one nurse being the designated nurse for Child F in nursery room 2, and Lucy Letby being a designated nurse for the other baby in room 2 that night.

    The court is shown a plan of the neonatal unit and the designated nurses for the babies on the unit that night.

    That night, there was one baby being cared for in room 3, twins being cared for in room 4, and two other babies in the unit whose location cannot be established from the records, the court hears.

    There were a total of seven babies in the unit and five nurses on duty that night.

    Text messages (1)



    7.30pm:     During the handover period at 7.30-8pm, a message from Letby's colleague Jennifer Jones-Key is sent to Letby's phone, saying: "Hey how's you? x"


    8.01pm: Letby responds at 8.01pm: "Not so good. We lost [Child E] overnight. x"

    8.02pm: Ms Jones-Key: "That's sad. We're on a terrible run at moment. We're you in 1? X"

    8.02pm: Letby: "Yes. I had him & [another child]

    Jones-Key: "That's not good. You need a break from it being on your shift."

    Letby replied it was the "luck of the drawer [sic]".

    Jones-Key: "You seem to be having some very bad luck though"

    Letby: "Not a lot I can do really. He had massive haemorrhage which could have happened to any baby x"

    Jones-Key: "...Oh yeah I know that and it can happen to any baby. Very scary and I have seen one"

    Jones-Key: "Hope your [sic] be ok. Chin up"

    Letby: "I'm ok. Went to [colleague] for a chat earlier on [and with] nice people tonight."

    Letby: "This was abdominal [bleed in Child E]. I've seen pulmonary before"

    Jones-Key: "That's not good. It's horrible seeing it.

    "Hope your night goes ok"

    9-10pm: The court is shown medication is being administered to Child F at this time, between 9-10pm.

    11.32pm: A blood gas record result at 11.32pm shows a blood glucose level of 5.5.

    5 August 2015
    12.25am:     A 48-hour bag prescription of nutrition is signed, solely, by Lucy Letby, recording it ending at 12.25am on August 5.

    Two records are shown for the next administration, the first being crossed out.

    The second nutrition bag has a higher level of babiven, along with quantities of lipid and 10% dextrose that weren't on the first, crossed out, administration.

    The babiven is stated to start at 12.25am,
    and the lipid administration is signed to begin at 3am.

    Letby is a co-signer for both the babiven prescriptions, but not the lipid administration.

    12.25am: The 12.25am prescription for the TPN bag starts to be administered at 12.25am.

    Child F then suffered a deterioration, the court hears.

    1am: A fluid chart shows Child F, for 1am in the 'NGT aspirate/vomit' column, four '+' signs.
    The nursing note, written retrospectively and timed for 1am, records: "large milky vomit. Heart rate increased to 200-210. [respiration rate] increased to 65-80. [Oxygen saturation levels] >96%. Became quieter than usual. Abdomen soft and not distended. Slightly jaundiced in appearance but no loss of colour. Dr Harkness R/V."

    1.15am: An observation chart for Child F is timed at 1.15am.

    The heart rate is shown having increased, along with the respiration rate, at this time, into the 'yellow area', which the court has previously heard is something medical staff would note and raise concerns if necessary.

    Prosecutor Nicholas Johnson KC says the relevant nurse will be asked to give further details on this in due course.

    1.54am: A blood gas reading for Child F at 1.54am has his blood glucose level as 0.8.

    2.05am: Medication of 10% dextrose is administered intraveneously at 2.05am, along with various other medications.

    2.15am: Blood tests are ordered for Child F by doctors at 2.15am and 2.17am.

    They are collected between 2.33am and 2.45am.

    2.55am: Child F's blood glucose level is recorded as 2.3 at 2.55am. This is still "below where it should safely have been", Mr Johnson tells the court.

    3.10am: The lipid prescription is administered at 3.10am on August 5, with 0.9% saline administered at 3.35am.

    3.50am: A 10% dextrose infusion is recorded at 3.50am.

    At 4.02am: Child F's blood glucose reading is 1.9.

    4.25am: Further saline and 10% dextrose medications are administered at 4.25am.

    5am: The blood glucose level is recorded as 2.9 at 5am.

    7.30am: The shift handover is carried out at 7.30am, with day shift nurse Shelley Tomlins recording a blood glucose level for Child F as 1.7 for 8am.

    Prosecutor Mr Johnson says this is a "dangerously low level".

    10am: Dr Ogden records a blood glucose level at 10am for Child F as '1.3'.

    11.46am: The subsequent reading, recorded at 11.46am, is 1.4.


    Text messages (2)


    Prior to this reading, Letby has been messaging the night-shift designated nurse for Child F, saying: "Did you hear what [Child F]'s sugar was at 8[am]?"

    The nurse replies: "No?"

    Letby: "1.8"

    The nurse replies: "[S***]!!!!", adding she felt "awful" for her care of Child F that night.

    Letby: "Something isn't right if he is dropping like that," adding that Child F's heel has to be taken into consideration [as blood gas tests are taken via heel pricks, and cannot be done too regularly].

    The nurse responds: "Exactly, he had so much handling. No something not right. Heart rate and sugars."

    Letby: "Dr Gibbs came so hopefully they will get him sorted.

    "He is a worry [though]."

    The nurse replies: "Hpe so. He is a worry."

    Letby responds: "Hope you sleep well...let me know how [Child F] is tonight please."

    The nurse replies: "I will hun".

    12pm: Child F's blood glucose level is recorded by a doctor as 2.4 at 12pm.

    Further medication administrations are made throughout the morning.

    A new long line is also inserted at this time.
    Child F's blood glucose level is recorded as being: 2.4 at noon
    1.9 at 2pm
    1.3 at 3.01pm.

    More dextrose is administered.

    4pm: The blood glucose level is still "very low", the court hears, at 1.9 at 4pm.

    At that time (4pm), Letby's phone receives an invitation from an estate agency firm confirming a viewing for a property in Chester, near the hospital. This home would be the address where Letby stayed until her 2018 arrest.

    5.56pm: Child F's blood glucose level is recorded as being 1.3 at 5.56pm.

    A blood test is recorded for insulin to the Royal Liverpool Hospital at 5.56pm. The court hears those results did not come back for a week.

    6pm: Child F's blood glucose level is recorded as 1.9 at 6pm.

    Text messages (3)



    6pm:     Letby messages a colleague at 6pm to ask: "Hi! Are you going to salsa tonite?"

    The colleague responds: "Should do really as I haven't been for ages."

    After confirming she will, Letby responds with an 'ok' emoji.

    Letby adds: "Need to try and find some sort of nites energy", before clarifying "post nites"

    She adds, to conclude the conversation: "Hasta luego".

    A nursing note records there was a change from the TPN/lipid and 10% dextrose administration to 'just 15% dextrose with sodium chloride added'.

    7pm: The new fluids were commenced at 7pm.

    Text messages (4)


    The designated nurse for the previous night shift returns to care for Child F on the night shift for August 5-6.

    She messages Letby to say: "He is a bit more stable, heart rate 160-170."

    The long line had "tissued" and Child F's thigh was "swollen".

    It was thought the tissued long line "may be" the cause of the hypoglycemia.

    The colleague added: "Changed long line but sugars still 1.9 all afternoon. Seems like long line tissued was not cause of sugar problem, doing various tests [to find the source of the problem].

    Letby responds: "Oh dear, thanks for letting me know"

    The nurse colleague replies: "He is def better though. Looks well. Handles fine."

    Letby replies: "Good."

    At 9.17pm: Child F's blood glucose level is recorded as being 4.1.

    11.58Letby later adds, at 11.58pm: "Wonder if he has an endocrine problem then. Hope they can get to bottom of it.

    "On way home from salsa feel better now I have been out."

    The colleague replies: "Good, glad you feel better. Maybe re endocrine. Maybe just prematurity."

    Letby replies: "How are parents?"

    Colleague: "OK. Tired. They've just gone to bed."

    Letby: "Glad they feel able to leave him."

    Colleague: "Yes. they know we'll get them so good they trust us."

    Letby: "Yes.

    "Hope you have a good night."

    6 August 2015
    1.30am:     Child F's blood glucose levels rose to 9.9 at 1.30am on August 6, a repeat 9.9 reading being made at 2am.

    Facebook searches


    Letby made the first of nine Facebook searches for the mum of Child E and F at 7.58pm on August 6.

    The searches were carried out between August 2015 and January 2016, and included a search on Christmas Day.

    One other search was carried out for the father of Child E and F on Facebook at 1.17am on October 5.

    Text messages (5)


    9 August 2015
    10.17pm:     Letby sent a message to the designated nurse for Child F from those two night shifts, on August 9 at 10.17pm, saying: "I said goodbye to [Child E and F's parents] as [Child F] might go tomorrow. They both cried and hugged me saying they will never be able to thank me for the love and care I gave to [Child E] and for the precious memories I've given them. It's heartbreaking."

    The nurse colleague replies: "It is heartbreaking but you've done your job to the highest standard with compassion and professionalism. When we can't save a baby we can try to make sure that the loss of their child is the one regret the parents have. It sounds like that's exactly what you have done. You should feel very proud of yourself esp[ecially] as you've done so well in such tough heartbreaking circumstances. Xxxx"

    Letby: "I just feel sad that they are thanking me when they have lost him and for something that any of us would have done. But it's really nice to know that I got it right for them. That's all I want."

    The colleague replies: "It has been tough. You've handled it all really well."

    "They know everything possible was done and that no-one gave up on [Child E] till it was in his best interest. As a parent you want the best for your child and sometimes that isn't what you'd choose. Doesn't mean that your [sic] not grateful to those that helped your child and you tho xxx"

    Letby: "Thank you xx"

    12 November 2015
    On November 12, another colleague messages Lucy Letby at 8.32pm, saying: "[Child E and Child F]'s parents brought a gorgeous huge hamper in today. Felt awful as couldn't remember who they were till opened the card. Was very nice to them though n [Child F] looks fab x"

    Letby responds: "Oh gosh did they, awe wish I could have seen them. That'll stay with me forever. Lovely family x"[/h4]

    Alaris Pump (for infusions)


    A video is now shown to the court demonstrating how an Alaris pump, for infusions, is used at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

    The pump has an air sensor at the machine part, and the video explains there is no real way air could be added at any point in the infusion line.

    The machine can be set to administer an infusion from a TPN bag, down a line, at variable rates per 24 hour periods.

    The machine gives off an alarm if there is an 'occlusion' - or blockage - along the line.

    The alarm can be silenced for two minutes by pressing a button. While that alarm is silenced, a red button would flash on the top of the machine.

    An event log is displayed on the machine showing when the infusion starts/stops, if the rate is changed, and if it is primed.

    The machine can store 100 events, and the log cannot be deleted by staff while it is on.

    If the pump is switched off, and on restarting the option 'clear setup' is made, the event log is wiped.

    The video explains that typically the events on there are not logged by Countess staff unless they are in relation to a serious health issue with the patient.

    The video demonstrates what happens when an 'air bolus' - or air down the line - is in place when the machine is active.

    The machine displays an 'occlusion' text warning and an alarm goes off.

    A harsher sounding alarm then sounds, with 'air-in-line' displayed on the screen.

    The machine can infuse at a maximum rate of 100ml/hr, the court hears.

    Witness Evidence

    Dr Gail Beech


    Philip Astbury, prosecuting, is now calling Dr Gail Beech to give evidence.

    She was employed at the Countess of Chester Hospital as a paediatric registrar in summer 2015.

    She was present at the birth of Child E and Child F, and looked after the former.

    Her first involvement with Child F was during the day shift on August 4.

    She says it would have been "usual practice" that she would have been told about the death of Child E as part of her hand-over for that day shift.

    A 'ward round-up' is presented to the court, filled in, in preparation for the weekly consultant 'grand round' ward round-up on a Wednesday.

    The list of problems, readings and observations for each child is noted, concluding with a management plan.

    Dr Beech explains Child F was born premature, and the note recorded Child E had died aged six days.

    Child F was on Optiflow, with 'suspected sepsis' noted, a raised urea and creatinine, 'jaundice' but not on phototherapy at this stage.

    Child F was also 'establishing feeds' and awaiting genetics test for Down's, but Child F was not showing any clinical features, and 'hyperglycaemia - resolved'.

    Mr Astbury says the genetic test results were received on August 7. Dr Beech said they confirmed there wasn't a presence of Down's.

    Dr Beech confirms she was satisfied the hyperglycaemia [high blood sugar] level had been resolved.

    Dr Beech said a standard list of medication was prescribed.

    The Optiflow reading was not supplemented with oxygen - Child F had been 'in air since 3.30am'.

    Oxygen saturation levels were 92-97%, which were 'satisfactory'.

    Dr Beech says there 'weren't any concerns' on the cardiovascular system.

    Child F weighed 1.296kg [2lb 13oz], from a birth weight of 1.434kg [3lb 2oz]. Dr Beech said this was not a concern as babies, particularly neonates, lose weight in the first days following birth.

    Dr Beech confirms Child F was receiving nutrition via a TPN bag.

    Child F was 'active, moving all 4 limbs'.

    Child F was 'active and pink', with a 'clear' chest, no increased rate of breathing.

    A note saying Child F required further tests on 'mouth and palate', and 'eyes', as part of a 'top to toe examination'.

    The management plan says, for Child F, 'wean Optiflow flow when in air.'

    'Complete 7 days of antibiotics'

    "Continue increasing feeds as tolerated'.

    'Chase genetics [for results]'.

    'Complete examination and baby check later (parents arrived, upset about twin 1)'.

    Dr Beech is now asked to look at a chart for a prescription for Babiven, which she has dated, but does not recall writing it.

    She had signed for a rate of lipid, but that was zero as it wasn't required.

    Babiven is a "standard bag" which would be given at a bespoke rate for Child F.

    Dr Beech says the second prescription, with different Babiven levels and a new lipid level, was made as Child F had been made 'nil by mouth' and the increased levels were so Child F could acquire the same level of nutrients in his body.

    Dr Beech is asked if there was anything notable from previous clinical records that she could recall in respect of Child F. She says there was not.

    Her note at 5.40pm on August 5 documented 'asked to prescribe 150ml/kg/day 15% dextrose over 24hr at handover with 5ml/kg/day in it.

    "Also to stop TPN, check urinary [sodium], cortisol and insulin."

    Dr Beech says she cannot remember if Child F had been prescribed additional dextrose doses.

    She says the 15% dextrose - a "high amount" - would normally be due to low blood sugar levels.

    An intensive care chart is shown to the court, showing blood sugar levels which are "all low".

    "2.9 [the 5am reading] isn't bad for a neonate - anything less than 2.6 is considered low"

    Readings of 1.8 and 1.9 are shown for much of the day, up to 6pm.

    10% dextrose solutions are administered at 3pm and 4pm.

    A blood test is recorded at 5.56pm, sent to a laboratory, with 'relevant clinical details: preterm neonate, hypoglycaemia, on 10% dextrose'.

    The blood glucose levels recorded are 1.3.

    The 'lab sample' "tends to be more accurate" than one on a blood gas machine, Dr Beech tells the court.

    The cortisol reading is 364, which is within the range of 155 to 607.

    The insulin reading is 4,657.

    The insulin c-pep reading is less than 169.

    Dr Beech says the insulin reading is "very high" - while there is no 'normal upper limit', that reading could be considered high, the court hears.

    The insulin c-pep reading is the lowest reading the machine can record.

    The two readings [insulin and insulin c-pep] are "expected to be similar," Dr Beech tells the court.

    A urine sample sent at 6.43pm had 'no unusual readings', but Dr Beech tells the court she cannot think, off the top of her head, how to interpret those results recorded.

    A chart showing a 7pm prescription of 15% dextrose, with sodium chloride, is administered intraveneously. Dr Beech has signed that.

    Cross Examination
    Ben Myers KC, for Letby's defence, asks about the review she completed for Child F.

    She clarifies she was waiting genetic test results for Child F for the presence of Down's Syndrome. Those results came back on August 7, with no evidence of Down's Syndrome.

    Mr Myers asks if a further, microarray genetics test can be conducted to show for further potential genetic disorders. Dr Beech confirms that is the case.

    Mr Myers says on August 4, the fluids were being administered via TPN, and milk coming in via the NGT [nasogastric tube], with no lipid required as Child F was getting milk in.

    Mr Myers asks about the management plan - 'continue increasing feeds as tolerated'.

    He then refers to the two August 4 prescriptions of fluids [the first being crossed out], and if Dr Beech had completed the figures. Dr Beech confirms that was the case, and that she signed for them.

    At the first one, there is no component of lipid.

    Dr Beech says she would have written these figures after the ward round, so the TPN could be made up.

    Dr Beech says it would take some time from prescribing the TPN bag to it then being administered.

    Mr Myers asks for clarity on how the second prescription comes to be made, with a different rate of administration of Babiven and a new lipid and new 10% dextrose doses.

    Dr Beech confirms she did not prescribe these additional nutritions, as they are signed by a colleague.

    The total nutrition administration is now 165ml and the rate is slightly increased from the first, crossed-out prescription of total 150ml fluid.

    Dr Beech says the additional nutrition would come on separate infusions.

    That concludes Dr Beech's evidence.

    Nurse Shelley Tomlins


    No live reporting - below taken from MailOnline article (23/11/22)

    Miss Tomlins told the court she recalled a new TPN intravenous feed bag being set up for Baby E after a longline tube needed to be replaced because it had 'tissued'.

    This would have come from the padlocked fridge on the unit. Nurses had access to bespoke TPN bags for individual babies and stock bags for more general use or where there was no time to wait for a bespoke bag.

    The bespoke bags lasted for either 24 hours or 48 hours, but seven years on from the incident she couldn't remember which.

    Asked what type of feed bag would have been used on August 4, Miss Tomlins replied: 'It would depend on whether there were any more bags made up for him.

    'If we had run out I assume we would have just attached to one of our stock bags and ordered more for him. It took a few hours for them to come from the pharmacy'.

    She said the keys to both the fridge and the cupboards in Nursery 1 where drugs, insulin and intubation kits were kept together on the same bunch.

    Asked by Simon Driver, prosecuting, who had possession of this, she replied: 'Usually the nurse in charge, but any one of us could ask for the bunch of keys and forget we had it in our pocket'.

    She did not think a log was kept of who had the keys at any particular time.

    Insulin was kept in the cupboards in Nursery 1, along with controlled drugs and the drugs needed for the intubation kits.

    Mr Astbury put one final question to her, asking: 'Did you mat any point administer insulin to Baby F'.

    She replied: 'No'.

    Cross Examination
    Miss Tomlins agreed with Ben Myers, KC, defending, that there was nothing unusual in a nurse signing on computer records for tasks that had actually been completed by a colleague.
    'It wasn't strictly enforced,' she said. 'The 'user' simply means you're the one that is signed onto the system'.

    Mr Myers: 'So you can't tell who has actually administered, can you?'

    The nurse: 'No'.

    Asked about the keys, she said they might happen to be with the last person who had gone to the fridge.

    'Sometimes you had to ask around. You just used to say 'Who's got the keys?' You would not necessarily say where you were going with them, but it would be the fridge or the cupboard.

    'They kept intubation kits in the fridge. These contained drugs that were needed so they were ready and you could get on with it'.

    She said two nurses would check that a new TPN bag had been connected correctly, but it might be set up by a single nurse. If it was a prescribed bag, one nurse would sign the paperwork.

    Nurse Sophie Ellis


    No live reporting - below taken from Chester Standard daily round up article (23/11/22)

    Mr Astbury repeated the question [“Did you at any point in time administer insulin to (Child F)?”] to Ms Ellis, giving evidence from behind a screen, who worked with Letby on the night shift of August 4.

    Ms Ellis replied: “Absolutely not.”

    Nurse Belinda Williamson


    No live reporting - below taken from Chester Standard daily round up article (23/11/22)

    Finally Mr Astbury asked Ms Williamson, the shift leader on the night of August 4: “Did you during the course of the shift, at any stage, administer (Child F) any insulin?”

    “No,” said Ms Williamson.

    Doctor - unnamed


    The first witness is a doctor who has previously given evidence in the trial, but cannot be named due to reporting restrictions.

    She says she didn't have any direct treating care role for Child F.

    The court is shown clinical notes on August 13 from a junior doctor colleague, in which she received genetic test results from Liverpool Women's Hospital.

    The test had been conducted to check for signs of Down's Syndrome.

    The doctor says Child F did not show any clinical signs of Down's at birth, and the test result showed no signs that was the case either.

    The 'hypo screen results' were from a series of blood tests done when a baby has a "persistent" low blood sugar score. Some tests are conducted in the Countess of Chester hospital, some are taken to a laboratory in Liverpool, the court hears.

    The doctor says the cortisol reading was 'normal', the insulin at a reading of 4,657 was "too high for a baby who has a low blood sugar".

    The doctor says it would be expected, with a baby in low blood sugar, for insulin to stop being produced, so that would also be low.

    The insulin c-peptide reading of 'less than 169' does not correlate with the insulin reading. The insulin and insulin-cpep readings would be 'proportionate' with each other.

    The doctor says it was likely insulin was given as a drug or medicine, rather than being produced by Child F, to account for this insulin reading.

    "This is something we found very confusing at the time," the doctor says, and said there weren't any other babies in the unit being prescribed insulin at that time, which would rule out "accidental administration".

    The doctor says there are "some medical conditions" where a low blood sugar reading would also see a high insulin reading, but the low insulin c-peptide reading meant those conditions would be ruled out.

    The insulin reading was "physiologically inappropriate", the court hears.

    The doctor said those readings would be repeated, but as Child F's blood sugar levels had returned to normal by the time the test results came back several days later, there would be "no way" to repeat the test and expect similar results.

    The doctor tells the court that Child F had received 'rapid acting insulin' on July 31, but the effect of that insulin would have "long gone" by the time the hypoglycaemia episode was recorded on August 5.

    The clinical note added 'as now well and sugars stable, for no further [investigations].

    "If hypoglycaemia again at any point for repeat screen."

    The doctor says if Child F had any further episodes of low blood sugar, then the blood test would be carried out again.

    The prosecution ask if anything was done with this data.

    The doctor says it was looked to see if anyone else at the time was prescribed insulin in the whole neonatal unit, for a possible 'accidental administration', but there were no other babies at that time. No further action was taken.

    Cross Examination
    Ben Myers KC, for Letby's defence, asks to clarify that Child F's blood sugar had stabilised at that time. The doctor agrees.

    The doctor clarifies, on a question from the judge Mr Justice James Goss, that the scope of the 'insulin prescription' checks were made for August 4 and August 5.

    Dr John Gibbs


    The next witness to give evidence is Dr John Gibbs, who was a consultant paediatrician in August 2015.

    He was the 'consultant of the week' the week when Child E and Child F were born, and the clincial responsibility meant he would go around the neonatal unit for a full examination, in addition to going around the unit every other day for observations, but not a full examination.

    He said that was 'standard practice' for consultants in hospitals across the nation, as had been the case for many years.

    He adds the number of neonatal unit deaths up to 2015 were within the normal range or lower than the average, up to 2015-2016.

    He said the practice has since changed in 2016, in many hospitals, for there to be a 'consultant of the week' in the neonatal unit, and a separate 'consultant of the week' in the paediatric ward.

    He said, for the Countess of Chester Hospital, it had followed the higher than expected mortality rate in the neonatal unit in 2015-16.

    Dr Gibbs says the blood glucose levels for Child F, as noted by a colleague, soon after birth were 'satisfactory' at 2.7, as it should ideally be 'above 2.6'.

    He said the following reading was '1.9', and that can be a 'natural consequence of the separation of baby from mother', so was not unusual in itself, and was more commonly seen in premature babies, the court is told.

    Child F was "struggling with his breathing", so was started with an infusion with glucose.

    The blood gas readings for Child F are shown for July 30-31, Child F having been born on July 29.

    The glucose reading at 9.57pm for July 30 is '15.1' - an 'abnormally high' amount.

    Dr Gibbs says the reading shouldn't go above 7.

    He says that could be an indication for infection, and Child F was on antibiotics.

    A single high blood sugar level reading would be monitored, and repeat high readings would lead to action taken, Dr Gibbs tells the court.

    Because the blood sugar level reading on July 31 at 12.22am was 13.9, Child F was administered with insulin, "in a very small dose, carefully controlled", Dr Gibbs says.

    Dr Gibbs says the administration of insulin at 3.40am meant the junior doctors had waited until a couple of high blood glucose readings had been recorded.

    At 4.41am, the blood glucose level was 8.7, and Dr Gibbs says that meant Child F was "responding well" to the insulin infusion.

    Dr Gibbs says the insulin infusion progress is "fairly predictable" and "you would expect" the blood sugar levels to decrease gradually.

    He said: "It remained lower," so the insulin infusion was stopped at 6.20am.

    Dr Gibbs' notes from August 2 are shown to the court, for his examination of Child F, a 'routine ward round'.

    Dr Gibbs said he had seen Child F's twin brother, Child E, just before.

    Child F was recovering from 'respiratory distress syndrome', was being treated for suspected sepsis, and had lost weight from birth, which was normal in newborn babies, the court hears.

    The blood sugar levels were still 'moderately high', between 5-10.

    He had 'some jaundice, which is common in premature babies', and a note for a heart murmur is made, but Dr Gibbs said he had not heard that upon examination of Child F.

    Child F was on 'standardised' TPN fluid nutrition administration, plus nasal gastric feeds with expressed breast milk.

    Dr Gibbs said 'standard' TPN bags would continue to be administered with newborn babies, with any tailored additives for babies, despending on their requirements, administered via a separate infusion method.

    Child F had 'intermittent desaturations', which were not a cause for concern, the court hears.

    Dr Gibbs said he couldn't hear a heart murmur, but the CPAP machine was on, so that may explain why he could not have heard any heart murmur - "or there may have been no heart murmur there".

    Nurses had tried Child F off CPAP [breathing support] earlier that morning, which had led to oxygen desaturations, so he was put back on CPAP.

    Dr Gibbs said Child F was likely recovering from respiratory distress syndrome.

    The plan was to increase Child F's naso-gastric milk 'as tolerated'.

    Dr Gibbs says the milk feeds were subsequently increased in the following days.

    At August 5, at 1.30am, Dr Gibbs was on call when Dr Harkness reviewed Child F, following concerns over vomit and heart rate. Dr Gibbs was telephoned at 3.30am.

    Dr Gibbs was told about the 'multiple small milky vomits and 9ml milky aspirate', and a heart rate above 200bpm, which he says was "high even for a premature baby".

    Dr Gibbs said otherwise, Child F presented as a healthy baby.

    The "sudden" increase of heart rate to over 200bpm was "very unusual".

    Dr Harkness had 'assumed' the change in observations was down to an infection, and Dr Gibbs agreed, but Dr Gibbs said it was "a very rapid change, even for infection", and there would normally be signs of Child F deteriorating beforehand.

    The plan was to rescreen for infection and start a new line for different, second-stage antibiotics.

    The August 5 intensive care chart for Child F is shown to the court.

    Dr Gibbs said as the naso-gastric feed tube was stopped [nil by mouth], that meant the TPN bag had to be changed to account for the administration of new medication, via a long line.

    The blood glucose reading for Child F is 0.8 - "abnormally low" at 1.54am.

    The August 3-4 readings shown are between 3.8 and 5.4, which Dr Gibbs says were normal.

    Dr Gibbs says 0.8 is a "worryingly low reading for a baby".

    A bolus of glucose was administered, with Dr Harkness giving an additional administration of glucose and sodium chloride, to 'keep the blood sugar level up'.

    The following blood glucose reading of 2.3 at 2.55am was "much improved" but still low, so the plan for that would have been to continue to monitor the readings "carefully", Dr Gibbs says.

    The additional provision was administered at 4am.

    A reading of 2.9 was subsequently recorded.

    Dr Gibbs said Dr Harkness likely had concerns over the heart rate raising suddenly, wondering if Child F had an "inherent problem" with the heart rate - [Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)]. However, those readings would see a heart rate of over 300bpm, so was recorded as "unlikely" on Dr Harkness's clinical note.

    The consultation on the phone concluded infection as a possible cause, but the readings were "unusual to have such a sudden change in his observations".

    Dehydration was also a possible cause.

    Fluids and saline were administered to treat the possible causes.

    Dr Gibbs said that Child F had an "extremely high" level of insulin in his body later that day, as revealed by a subsequent test result.

    He added: "It makes it likely that his symptoms were related to very low blood sugar, [and can only be explained] by him receiving a high dose of insulin."

    He said this was something he had concluded in hindsight. He had not come to this conclusion at 3.30am [during the telephone consultation], as he would not have had any reason to believe insulin had been administered.

    Dr Gibbs' notes from 8.30am on August 5 recorded a 'natual increase in heart rate' due to Child F's stress.

    The blood glucose reading was '1.7' despite administrations of glucose.

    He also had signs of decreased circulation - a sign that he was "stressed, dehydrated, or had an infection".

    While the blood sugar levels had risen to the '2's during the night, the latest reading of 1.7 was unusual and "unexpected" as Child F had had glucose administered, but did not seem to be responding.

    Dr Gibbs: "At the time we didn't know this was because he had a large dose of insulin inside him".

    Query marks were put on the note for sepsis - but the blood gas reading showed no sign of this, and for gastro-intestinal disease NEC, which had 'no clinical signs', as Dr Gibbs notes.

    A plan was to give a 'further glucose bolus'.

    The 'query query' was to consult the new 'consultant of the week' for a possible abdominal x-ray to look for signs of NEC, but Dr Gibbs tells the court this was not likely.

    At 11am, the TPN, which includes 10% dextrose, was 'off' as the line had "tissued", and it was restarted at noon. That TPN was stopped at 7pm, and replaced with a 15% dextrose infusion, Dr Gibbs tells the court.

    Dr Gibbs says the blood sugar levels remained "low, sometimes worryingly low" throughout the day.

    The reading was 1.9 for much of the afternoon, despite three 10% dextrose boluses being administered during the day.

    He adds after 7pm, the blood sugar readings, "at last", go to a "normal reading" of 4.1 by 9pm.

    Dr Gibbs says the dextrose administrations had some minor effect at times, other times no effect.

    He tells the court the assumption was infection, but it was "unusual" to have the blood sugar level remain so low, even with administration of 10% dextrose boluses, and that was what led to the call for a blood test to be carried out at the laboratory in the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

    The blood sugar reading at 5.56pm on August 5 was "abnormally low" at 1.3, and the test was sent out to another laboratory as testing for insulin levels was a relatively "unusual" test.

    The test result is shown to the court.

    Dr Gibbs explains the readings.

    He says the cortisol reading is 'satisfactory', but the "more relevant" reading was insulin.

    "There should be virtually no insulin detected in the body...rather than that, there is a very high reading of 4,657".

    The insulin C-peptide reading should, for natural insulin, should be even higher [than 4,657] in this context,
    Dr Gibbs explains, but it is "very low"

    The ratio of C-peptide/insulin is marked as '0.0', when it should be '5.0-10.0'

    Dr Gibbs says the insulin c-peptide reading should be at 20,000-40,000 to correlate with the insulin reading in this test.

    The doctor says this insulin result showed Child F had been given a pharmaceutical form of insulin administered, and he "should have never received it".

    Cross Examination
    Ben Myers KC, for Letby's defence, explains on this count [for Child F], Dr Gibbs will not be asked any questions on his evidence.

    He adds that Dr Gibbs will be cross-examined on a future occasion in the trial on evidence that has been raised.

    Nurse - unnamed (1)


    The next witness to give evidence is a nurse who cannot be named due to reporting restrictions. She has previously given evidence in the trial, and is now giving evidence in the case of Child F.

    The nurse confirms she had some involvement in the care of Child F, but was not the designated nurse.

    She confirms she administered an infusion of glucose to Child F on August 5 at 8.30am.

    She says it would have been a bolus of glucose given as a "push" response to low blood sugar.

    An Alaris syringe driver video is displayed to the court, showing how a syringe dose can be electronically administered via infusion, at various rates. These rates can be locked.

    It is similar to the Alaris pump, and has alarms if the syringe is not loaded properly, if the infusion has been placed 'on hold' for a certain length of time, if the rate has been changed but has not been confirmed, if the infusion is complete, if there is a power failure or low on battery, if there is an error message.

    The alarm colour would be amber on the machine, and can be paused for two minutes.

    An event log would be available on the machine for 24 hours.

    The nurse confirms it was a standard machine used at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and was standard practice.

    The nurse said the event log wouldn't be looked at routinely by staff.

    An 'occlusion' alarm would be a red alarm light, with an alarm sound.

    The syringe would be primed beforehand with the fluid, attaching the syringe to a line, and would be 'flushed' so no air would be present.

    The nurse says a different piece of equipment would be used for TPN bags, and this equipment would be used for the lipid [fats] element administered via syringe.

    The nurse says this equipment would be used to administer smaller amounts of fluids, such as 10% dextrose, or a saline bolus, or antibiotics.

    The video demonstrates an 'accelerated rate' of a drug could be administered via infusion via a 'purge' function on the machine, which would be used as a possible bolus administration.

    The nurse says that 'purge' button would not be used at the Countess of Chester Hospital, and was not standard practice.

    The video adds the 'purge' function would not add to the total millilitres of infusion administered on the machine's display - ie, any fluids administered during that 'purge' time would not be added to the total the machine had calculated so far.

    The machine also does not have the ability to detect air, the video presented to the court concludes.

    An IV administration chart for August 5 is shown to the court, with four 10% dextrose infusions focused on.

    The nurse has co-signed for two of the four administrations, both boluses at 8.30am and 3.15pm. One more would have been through a bolus and another via an infusion at a certain rate, which would require mechanical assistance.

    The nurse said she would have delivered the two boluses she signed for as a 'push' infusion (ie, push the fluid manually via syringe attached to a clean, 'flushed' infusion line), and the process would be 'straightforward'.

    The nurse is shown a note from the 'grand round', which the court heard was carried out by the on-call consultant each Wednesday.

    The note 'new long line' was made, and the nurse says that was because the existing long line had tissued.

    The new long line was made at noon on August 5.

    The nurse says her normal practice would have been for putting a new bag of fluids on the long line.

    The Alaris pump video is shown once again to the court, for the nurse to provide potential further context on what is demonstrated in the video.

    The Alaris pump would be used in connection with TPN bags.

    The nurse says while there is an input port on the TPN bag, she would not input anything manually in conjunction with the machine.

    The output port would be used for 'giving' the infusion to the patient.

    The nurse confirms a 10% dextrose administration was given to Child F at 3.30pm via an infusion.

    She tells the court the 10% dextrose infusion would have been administered, in addition to the existing dose from the new bag at noon, as the blood glucose level was still low for Child F.

    The nurse says the 3.30pm dose would have been administered via a syringe.

    Lipids would have been administered via a syringe driver.

    The court is shown a 15% dextrose dose, plus sodium chloride, is administered for 7pm on August 5. The nurse has signed for that medication administration.

    The nurse is also a co-signer for medication at 2am on Thursday, August 6.

    The nurse explains the practice was someone from the day shift (in this case, herself) would co-sign for the drug during the day, then she would in practice text the person who was administering it to confirm it had been administered, and that the scheduled dose could be taken 'off the system' and wasn't at risk of being administered twice.

    Cross Examination
    Ben Myers KC, for Letby's defence, asks about the administration of the drugs, and how they are administered.

    The nurse says the 10% dextrose would come in 500ml bags, and can be divided up on the unit for infusions, or come available via the pharmacy in 50ml pre-made doses.

    The nurse says she does not have an independent recollection of the event.

    She confirms if the long line is tissued, it cannot be used again.

    Mr Myers says if the long line is changed, then everything else is changed to avoid infection, including the TPN bag. The nurse confirms that would be the case.

    Mr Myers: "You wouldn't put up an old [TPN] bag, would you?"

    The nurse: "I wouldn't, no. And we wouldn't have put it up as we would have documented that."

    Mr Myers says as a general rule, TPN bags would run for 48 hours unless there was a problem, and there would be a stock of maintenance bags in the fridge.

    Mr Myers says one of those would have been used in the course of this. The nurse agrees.

    The nurse says such bags are checked every night and if any were being used or out of date, then the stock would be replenished.

    Prosecution
    Simon Driver, for the prosecution, asks about the stock bags in the refrigerator.

    He says every night, a check would be undertaken to see if any had been used.

    He asks how the checker would know if they had been used.

    The nurse says if there weren't the stock five TPN bags in the fridge, new ones would be ordered.

    The refrigerator would have 'start-up' TPN bags and 'maintenance' TPN bags of nutrition.

    The nurse says there may be fewer 'target stock' of the 'start-up' TPN bags.

    Each of the bags would have a dated 'shelf life' the court hears.

    The nurse says the bags would not be ordered in any particular fashion in the fridge.

    A video of glucose/dextrose administration is played to the court.

    The procedure is described as a 'two-person procedure'.

    A question from a juror asks if the syringe driver could administer an infusion if the line has not been primed (ie if the line still has air in it).

    The nurse confirms that would be the case. The equipment could have a filter connected, but it was the practice that the line would be primed before use.

    End of reporting

    Dr Anna Milan


    The court is hearing from Anna Milan, a clinical biochemist, how insulin and insulin c-peptide tests were taken for analysis.

    Child F's blood sample, which was dated August 5, 2015, was taken at 5.56pm.

    The court is shown a screenshot of Child F's blood sample results. Child F is referred to as 'twin 2' - Child E, the other twin boy, had died at the Countess of Chester Hospital on August 4.

    Dr Milan says Child F's insulin c-peptide level reading of 'less than 169' means it was not accurately detectable by the system.

    The insulin reading of '4,657' is recorded.

    A call log information is made noting the logged telephone call made by the biochemist to the Countess of Chester Hospital, with a comment made - 'low C-Peptide to insulin'
    The note adds '?Exogenous' - ie query whether it was insulin administered.

    The note added 'Suggest send sample to Guildford for exogenous insulin.'

    The court hears Guildford has a specialist, separate laboratory for such analysis in insulin, although the advice given to send the sample is not usually taken up by hospitals.

    Dr Milan said that advice would be there as an option for the Countess of Chester Hospital to take up.

    Dr Milan said she was 'very confident' in the accuracy of the blood test analysis produced for Child F's sample.

    Cross Examination
    Ben Myers, for Letby's defence, asks about the risk of the sample deteriorating if it is not frozen.

    Dr Milan said the sample arrived frozen. If it wasn't frozen, it would be accepted in 12-24 hours.

    She said the laboratory knew it arrived within 24 hours, and adds Chester has its own system in place to store the blood sample before transport.

    Mr Myers said the Child F blood sample would have been stored for seven days [in Liverpool], then disposed of. Dr Milan agrees.

    On a query from the judge, Mr Justice James Goss, Dr Milan explains how the blood sample is frozen and kept frozen for transport.

    She said the sample would not have been taken out of the freezer in Chester until it was ready to be transported.

    Dr David Harkness


    Dr David Harkness is being recalled to give evidence.

    He has previously given evidence in the trial, and was employed at the Countess of Chester Hospital in summer 2015 as a paediatric registrar.

    He is being asked about the night shift of August 4-5, and confirms he was accompanied by Dr Christopher Wood.

    Notes showed he saw Child F on three occasions during that night shift.
    He is asked about the 1.30am observations for Child F on August 5, of milky vomit and high heart rate.

    He confirms the observations were made by himself.

    He noted a 'soft continuous murmur' which is 'very common in babies'.

    The plan was to rescreen, and use a second line for antibiotics.

    There were "concerns" for Child F's heart rate, and that Child E, the twin baby boy, had passed away the previous night.
    Dr Harkness's notes are shown to the court from 2.30am.

    He noted Child F had 'large milky aspirate' and was 'quieter than usual'.

    He said, from the heart rate observations being 'higher than normal', he was troubled by the possibility of infection, stress and pain, but those heart rates would go to 180bpm, not 200-210bpm, and come back down after a few seconds/minutes, not remain constantly high.

    A septic screen and a number of blood tests were called for.

    The blood sugar level of 0.8 [underlined on the note] was "very low".

    Child F was "handling well" and pink and well perfused, indicating good circulation, Dr Harkness says, with heart sounds 'normal', but with a very quiet murmur.

    The two problems were hypoglycaemia and tachycardia.

    Dr Harkness's plan was for a dextrose bolus, a saline bolus, antibtiotics, an ECG, and to consider medicine to slow the heart rate down - but that medicine had its risks and would only be used in the event of supraventricular tachycardia.
    Dr Harkness's note at 3.30am for Child F showed a heart rate of 204.

    A discussion with the on-call consultant Dr John Gibbs, in which it was decided it was unlikely Child F had supraventricular tachycardia as the heart rate would be closer to 300bpm.

    Dr Gibbs suggested repeating the fluid bolus, continue to monitor Child F, and only to consider the heart-slowing medicine if the heart rate rose to near 300.

    A blood gas reading suggested Child F was dehydrated at this time.

    The plan was to continue to monitor Child F's sugar levels.

    A 10% dextrose infusion is administered for Child F at 3.50am, plus a 10% dextrose bolus at 4.20am.

    Dr Harkness said the administrations had "an effect", but the blood sugar levels "kept drifting up and down".

    Cross Examination
    Mr Myers, for Letby's defence, says there will be no questions asked for Dr Harkness at this time.

    Nurse - unnamed (2)


    No live reporting. Taken from daily round up 28/11/22
    On Monday, November 28, the jury at Manchester Crown Court was shown a form signed by Letby and her colleague confirming the nutrient bag was changed at 12.25am on August 5.

    The colleague, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she had no recollection of the specific event and could not be sure whether it was Letby or her who put up the bag.

    Philip Astbury, prosecuting, asked the nurse if she had put anything in the nutrient bag.

    She replied: “Absolutely not.”

    She also answered “no” when asked if she gave Child F any insulin at any stage during that shift, in any way.

    The court was shown messages sent between the witness and Letby after their night shift, in which they agreed Child F was a “worry” and Letby said: “Something isn’t right if he’s dropping like that.”

    The nurse said Child F’s observations had been “within normal limits” before midnight.

    She said: “I was really happy with him.”

    She told the court tests from the earlier part of her shift showed he had a “good blood sugar level” and no concerns were raised when she had a handover at the start of her night shift.

    She said: “He’d been nice and stable for me in the evening and, in fact, in the earlier part of the evening when I wasn’t there you can see the recordings are all within a similar level that we were happy with.”

    At a point between midnight and 1am, the child’s heart rate and breathing rate “suddenly” went up to concerning levels, the court heard.

    She agreed the change was worrying, and added: “Especially in the context that you can see from above they (his levels) have been nice and steady and stable for a while.”

    The nurse said she asked a doctor to review the baby and tests showed his glucose level was “dangerously low”.

    The court has heard his glucose levels remained low on the day shift of August 5 even after the intravenous line, and a connected bag containing nutrients, needed to be replaced after swelling to Child F’s leg.

    Child F’s blood glucose rose to safe levels later that evening after the nutrients were stopped and extra sugar was given independently, the court was told.

    He went on to make a full recovery and was later discharged.

    Ian Allen - Pharmacy


    The next witness to give evidence is Ian Allen, who worked in the Countess of Chester Hospital's pharmacy department in summer 2015.

    Simon Driver, prosecuting, asks about the responsibilities Mr Allen had, which involved quality assurance and production of TPN bags for the neonatal unit.

    Mr Driver focuses on the TPN bags, and a video which has been produced for the benefit of the court showing how a TPN bag is made.

    Mr Allen confirms he has seen the video.

    He describes the types of TPN nutrition bags - one would be used for the baby's first two days of life, and the other would be a maintenance 'stock' bag, supplied to the unit through the department.
    Mr Allen says the initial order would be faxed down to the pharmacy from the neonatal unit. It would be handed to a pharmacist, reviewed by them, processed into a worksheet [a set of instructions on how to make the bag and the ingredients needed to make it].

    A label would be generated.

    A member of the pharmacy team would gather the ingredients/quantities required. Every medicine would come with a batch sheet number as part of the 'assembly'.

    "Every step in the process has a standard operating procedure"

    Staff would be trained in the process through nationally recognised quality assurance, he tells the court.
    The items would be sprayed and wiped to sterilise them, and then made in a controlled environment.

    Two operators would make the bag, with checks in place confirming the identity and quantity of the ingredients.
    A pharmacist would check what has been used, looking at empty vials and ampoules to confirm what has been used.

    The pharmacist would be ultimately reponsible for the product.

    The unit would be subject to regulatory monitoring to ensure the safety, quaity and effectiveness of the products.
    The video explaining how a TPN bag is made at the pharmacy department is played to the court for the second time - it was first shown on Monday.

    The prosecution say they may intervene at various points in the video to ask Mr Allen questions about what is shown to the court.
    Mr Allen is now demonstrating how a TPN bag and its connectors work - which does have a connector which can be opened.
    The empty TPN bag and its connectors are now being passed around members of the jury and the defence for examination.
    Mr Driver is asking Mr Allen about how a quantity of liquid could be added to one of the ports, which is shown to be possible.
    The court is shown a nutrition prescription for Child F for August 4.

    Mr Allen confirms he is familiar with the type of prescription shown, and the worksheet which is also shown to the court.

    He said this particular TPN would have followed the standard protocols in the pharmacy, and was reflective of the prescription.

    He said the bag would have been transferred from the pharmacy to the neonatal unit fridge.
    A copy of the label for that TPN bag on August 4 would have been made for the pharmacy's records.

    The label has a use-by date of August 11, to be stored between 2-8 degrees C.
    The August 4 TPN bag did not have lipids prescribed on the prescription. Mr Allen said such lipids would have been prescribed separately.

    Mr Driver asks 'Would there be insulin?' for the TPN bags.

    Mr Allen: "No, there would never be insulin prescribed in these bags."

    Mr Driver asks how would that [insulin prescription for a baby] be done?

    Mr Allen: "...by separate syringes."
    Cross Examination
    Ben Myers KC, for Letby's defence, rises to clarify one matter on the TPN bag, which had an expiration date of seven days.

    He says normally, TPN bags could last for up to two months, but once the extra items are added to the prescription, the expiration would be reduced.

    Mr Allen: "That's correct."

    The court hears the stability of the bag is reduced.

    Mr Allen explains, upon questions from the judge, there would be nothing added by a pharmacist other than trace vitamins. The TPN bag would contain components such as 10% dextrose.

    The judge asks about the storage of the TPN bags.

    Mr Allen says there would be a stock level of TPN bags - they would be 'off-the-shelf' bags and a number would be stored in the pharmacy, and a smaller number would be stored in the unit's refrigeration area.

    Expert witness evidence

    Professor Peter Hindmarsh


    The next witness to give evidence is Professor Peter Hindmarsh, an expert witness.

    He explains to the court he is professor of paediatric endocrinology at University College London and consultant in paediatric endocrinology and diabetes at University College London Hospitals.

    Nicholas Johnson KC, for the prosecution, asks whether Professor Hindmarsh was contacted by Cheshire Police in connection with the case of Child F. Professor Hindmarsh confirms he was.

    Professor Hindmarsh confirms he had been told there was a suspicion Child F had received insulin in an 'exogenous' way - ie the insulin was not produced within the body.

    He said he concluded the cause of the hypoglycaemia was exogenous, and the chemical findings were compatible with the administration of exogenous insulin.

    The court hears about Child F's blood sugar being slightly below normal, just after birth, and he was given 10% dextrose, and that resolved the blood sugar level to a normal rate.

    There was also a point around July 30-31 when Child F's blood sugar level rose to a higher than normal rate, and he was given a tiny amount of insulin to lower the rate. Subsequent blood sugar readings returned to normal.

    The court is now shown Child F's observation chart for the night of August 4-5. Child F's heart rate rose from around 150bpm to 200-210bpm between 1.15am-4am.

    Child F had received a TPN bag of nutrition at 12.25am on August 5.

    Child F's blood sugar reading at 1.54am was 0.8. Professor Hindmarsh says it is a "significant" difference and "extremely low".

    Mr Johnson: "Was it a cause for concern?"

    Professor Hindmarsh: "Absolutely."
    (Table of blood sugar readings)

    A table, created by Professor Hindmarsh, records all of Child F's blood sugar readings from 11.32pm on August 4 to 9.17pm on August 5.

    They are: 5.5 (August 4, 11.32pm)

    0.8 (August 5, 1.54am)

    2.3 (2.55am)

    1.9 (4.02am)

    2.9 (5am)

    1.7 (8.09am)

    1.3 (10am)

    1.4 (11.46am)

    2.4 (noon)

    1.9 (2pm)

    1.9 (4pm)

    1.9 (6pm)

    2.5 (7pm)

    4.1 (9.17pm)

    A reading of 'above 2.6' is considered 'normal'.

    Professor Hindmarsh says the hypoglycaemia is "persistent" right through the day until the conclusion of the TPN bag at 6.55pm.

    The 5am reading of 2.9, which the court hears is considered a 'normal' blood sugar reading, is gone into further detail.

    Mr Johnson asks the court to show the intensive care chart for Child F for August 5.

    For the 5am reading, the blood sugar reading signature has the initials 'LL'.

    The chart also shows Professor Hindmarsh's notes to provide context for the blood sugar readings throughout the day, when changes are made to the infusions for Child F.

    Professor Hindmarsh says the hypoglycaemia continues "despite" five boluses of 10% dextrose and "ongoing" glucose delivery from the 10% dextrose infusion, and the glucose contained within the TPN bag.

    He says that would, in total, give a glucose infusion which would be, at minimum, "twice the normal [daily] requirements of a baby".

    He said it is likely more glucose was being delivered from the bolus injections.

    Professor Hindmarsh had noted three events during August 5, after 1.54am, when the TPN bag was administered.

    At 10am, there were problems with the cannula infusion which meant the line had to be resited, and fluids were discontinued. The two further glucose readings after are '1.4' and '2.4', "implying" that the blood glucose level had started to rise "spontaneously" as there was "no contribution from the intravenous route".

    Mr Johnson said after Child F was taken off the 'double' dose of dextrose during that time, his blood sugar levels "actually rose".

    Professor Hindmarsh: "That's how I see it, and I believe that is correct".

    The reading was "heading in the wrong direction" down to 1.9 by 2pm, the court hears.

    The infusions stopped at 6.55pm.

    Mr Johnson: "Is there a paradox between a child receiving glucose and their blood sugar falling?"

    Prof Hindmarsh: "Correct."

    The 5.56pm blood sample for Child F is referred to, which has a blood sugar reading of 1.3.

    Mr Johnson asks about the apparent disparity.

    Prof Hindmarsh says the laboratory reading of blood plasma of '1.3' differs from the neopatient reading of '1.9' (taken at 6pm).

    He explains a discrepancy of up to 0.8 between the two is considered acceptable.

    He says whichever the more accurate reading is 1.3 or 1.9, it is still "very low".

    Child F's blood test result from the laboratory, as shown earlier to the court today, is presented to Professor Hindmarsh. The sample was taken at 5.56pm on August 5 and collected at the Liverpool laboratory at 4.15pm on August 6.

    He says the insulin reading should be in proportion to the insulin C-Peptide reading, and should be several times higher in this context.

    Prof Hindmarsh explains to the court the dangers of prolonged low blood sugar in the body, which can lead to damage to the brain.

    Breakdown of fats can be used as a temporary measure, as a substitute.

    The problem, he says, is if the low blood sugar is caused by excess insulin.

    The insulin will 'switch off' key body formation.

    He says the brain would be in a "very, very susceptible state to receiving damage".

    That depends on the depth and length of the hypoglycaemia episode.

    An equivalent reading of 2.3 or so would lead to 'confusion' and difficulties reading/writing.

    Professor Hindmarsh says lower readings than that could lead to seizures, death of brain cells, coma, and in some cases, death.

    Professor Hindmarsh added, in his report, the insulin used in the hospital, has been used in the past 20-25 years, and is synthetic insulin.

    Stocks of pig/cow insulin would not be held as regular stock or in a pharmacy. They would have to be requested.

    The two types of synthetic insulin are fast-acting - ones that work within 30 minutes, applied via an injection, the effectiveness lasting 4-6 hours. The other type is long-acting, which lasts up to 12-24 hours.

    The second type of insulin, he explains, is not generally used for intravenous infusions, and he has never seen any evidence of that having been done.

    Professor Hindmarsh is shown a 10ml bottle of insulin, which normally comes with an orange, self-sealing cap.

    To extract the liquid from the bottle, to administer 'therapeutically', a medical professional would have to use a syringe, the court hears.

    Mr Johnson says by 'therapeutically', Professor Hindmarsh means 'legitimately'. Professor Hindmarsh agrees, and says the dose would have to be measured out carefully.

    The insulin bottle exhibit is shown to members of the jury and the defence.

    Once a syringe is put into the bottle, the bottle self seals after the syringe is removed, the court hears.

    Professor Hindmarsh says it is not possible to give insulin by mouth as it is a large molecule, so cannot be absorbed easily and the protein would be broken down by the acid in the stomach. It could not have been administered via the naso-gastric tube for the same reason.

    The only ways would have been through a skin injection or intraveneously, he says.


    For a skin injection, he says the duration of action [for the insulin] of 4-6 hours would not fit with the 17 hours of hypoglaycaemia. It would require multiple injections.


    He says an intravenous route "would be the most likely explanation".


    The way to do so would be a bolus of insulin - from testing in endrocrinology, the blood sugar level would fall within 90 minutes, then rise back to normal.


    To maintain hypoglycaemia "over a protracted period of time" would require multiple insulin boluses "roughly every two hours".


    The second route would be via infusion - "probably the most likely way of achieving the blood glucose effect that we have observed".

    The infusion would be "continuous", using the bags available, and "fit nicely" with the time course of events.

    It would "also be consistent" with the measurements that took place during and after the TPN bag was replaced.

    Professor Hindmarsh says the exogenous insulin, if the fast-acting type, would have reduced from the '4,657' reading to 'almost none' after a couple of hours after the TPN bag was removed.

    The rise of the blood glucose level in Child F to 4.1 by 9pm was "entirely consistent" with that.

    Professor Hindmarsh says a rate of about 0.56ml/hr of insulin would have been required to lower Child F's blood sugar levels on the TPN bag.

    This was calculated given the insulin level administered to lower Child F's blood sugar levels on July 31.

    Mr Johnson: "Would that level have been visible to the naked eye?"

    Prof Hindmarsh: "No."

    Mr Johnson asks if the stock TPN bag was contaminated to the same degree as the bespoke bag.

    Prof Hindmarsh says the glucose concentrations are not much different from 1.54am-10am, when the bag is changed, and after then.

    "The contents [and contamination] are probably about the same."

    Mr Johnson asks about Professor Hindmarsh's conclusion, that the fluid he was receiving could only have been contaminated with insulin.

    "Yes I do."

    Cross Examination

    Ben Myers KC, for Letby's defence, is now asking Professor Hindmarsh questions.

    He said the fast-acting insulin would not be visible.

    Professor Hindmarsh confirms that type of insulin would have a "distinctive smell" about it.

    Mr Myers says the concentration of insulin administered could, over time, could lead to complications for the patient.

    Prof Hindmarsh: "That is correct."

    Mr Myers said it would be about 25 minutes before the insulin administered would have its effect.

    Prof Hindmarsh said it would take about 25 minutes for it to have its biggest effect.

    Mr Myers says other than the heart rate and vomiting, Child F did not appear to suffer any other physical symptoms than the low blood sugar levels.

    He asks, given the high level of insulin seen, would there be "more powerful, physical consequences?"

    Prof Hindmarsh says vomiting is not an unusual feature.

    In the magnitude of features, he says, the effects would be on brain function rather than any other peripheral manifestations.

    He said physical features of hypoglycaemia would "not be easy to pick up in a newborn, or a premature" baby.
    "Neurologically, that's different."

    The features would also be "extremely variable".
    The first symptom "could, and would often be, collapse and seizure".

    Mr Myers says it is an alleged 17-hour period of exposure of high levels of insulin, and if the effects would have been more apprarent.

    Prof Hindmarsh says high levels of insulin have been recorded in babies with underlying conditions, and they present well up to the point of collapse.

    The intensive care chart for Child F is presented to the court again.

    The blood sugar reading of 2.9 is recorded for 5am.

    "2.9 would present in the normal range wouldn't it?"
    A normal range would be 3.5 or above, Professor Hindmarsh says.

    A reading of 0.8 is at 1.54am, and 2.3 at 2.55am. Mr Myers says, while low, that is a "significant increase".

    He shows an IV chart, in the intervening period at 2.05am, an administration of 10% dextrose for Child F.

    Mr Myers says the infusion chart, shown to the court, has a 10% dextrose bolus at 4.20am.

    Mr Myers adds between 4.02am and 5am, the blood glucose reading for Child F rises from 1.9 to 2.9.

    Mr Myers refers to the level of contamination in the TPN bags.

    He refers to the blood sample taken at 5.56pm on August 5, nearly 17 hours after the first TPN bag was put up for Child F.

    He says that reading "only applies to the second [TPN] bag."

    Professor Hindmarsh: "It did, yes."

    Mr Myers: "That won't tell us what the insulin level was at 12.25am, would it?"

    Prof Hindmarsh: "No, it won't. we haven't measured that."

    Prosecution
    Mr Johnson, for the prosecution, rises to clarify insulin levels.

    He asks would it be reasonable to infer that if Child F has similar blood glucose levels throughout the day, he had had similar insulin levels inside him during that day.

    Professor Hindmarsh says there is a caveat in that there had been efforts to raise Child F's blood sugar during the day through 10% dextrose boluses.

    "Overall, the infusion [rate] has essentially stayed the same.

    "I can't be absolutely sure...but it's safe to assume that the glucose infusion rate did not change, which would imply that the amount of insulin around would be similar throughout the 17-hour period - allowing for the breaks when the infusion was discontinued."

    He adds that would be his conclusion.

    Cross Examination
    Mr Myers has one more query, to which Professor Hindmarsh clarifies that a measurement of blood glucose is not a measurement of insulin or insulin C-Peptide, but there are 'clear relationships' between the two, and what they would be expected to be.

    He adds the blood glucose level, via infusion, was consistent, and "it would be reasonable to assume" the insulin infusion would also be at the same rate was it was at 5.56pm as it would be as earlier in the day.

    Professor Sally Kinsey


    Professor Sally Kinsey, a blood expert, is going to give evidence in relation to a number of the cases so far in the trial.

    Professor Kinsey confirms she was approached by Cheshire Police to look at several cases in the course of this trial. One is yet to come, while the other three are the cases of Child A and Child B (both twins) and Child F.

    She also confirms she has looked at the records of Child F's twin brother, Child E, for the purpose of her investigation.

    She has written reports for each case and set out the relevant backgrounds for each child, the court hears.

    The case now turns to Child F.

    Mr Johnson says the significance of Child F is on a comparative basis to identical twin brother Child E.

    Prof Kinsey confirms she has had access to Child F's medical records, which was for the context of Child E on a haematological level.

    She said she looked at the history of Child F, and 'one or two things happened' which helped her in her investigation.

    She said there were three blood investigations for Child F, over the space of two and a half years, which showed 'normal results'.

    Child F had had a physical accident when a small child, and there were no haematological-related problems when he was checked, the court hears.

    Child F was said to be 'slightly iron deficient' when tested at the age of two years old, but that was 'normal for infants'.

    The blood results were "completely normal" for Child F.

    Dr Sandie Bohin


    No live reporting, taken from daily round up (30/11/22)

    On Wednesday, November 30, prosecutor Nick Johnson KC asked expert witness Dr Sandie Bohin: “Did you conduct a careful review of the medical notes and identified the fact that there was material… to suggest that the TPN ( Total Parenteral Nutrition) bag had been changed?”

    “Yes,” replied the consultant neonatologist.

    Mr Johnson said: “And secondly, it followed, given the blood sugar readings, that two bags must have been contaminated with insulin?”

    Dr Bohin said: “Yes, if a new long line is inserted it would be usual practice to throw away the old bag of TPN, change the long line and put up a new bag which would mean insulin would need to have been in two bags.”

    Dr Bohin told the court that neonatal hypoglycaemia – persistent low blood sugar levels – could be “absolutely devastating”.

    She said: “‘Initially babies may become a little unwell, but if left untreated they could go on to have seizures, fall into a coma and subsequently die.

    “Neo-natal fits as a result of very low blood sugar are associated with significant brain damage, those children are not normal and go on to have long-term neuro-developmental problems.”

    Jurors have heard the TPN bags – both prescribed and stock – were kept in a locked fridge in a store room at the unit, along with insulin.

    The nursing shift leader would hold a set of keys to the fridge but they would be passed around colleagues as and when they needed access with no log taken.

    Dr Dewi Evans


    No live reporting, taken from daily round up (30/11/22)

    Mr Johnson asked another expert witness, consultant paediatrician Dr Dewi Evans: “Have you ever heard of the legitimate administration of insulin by somebody putting it into a bag of feed?”

    Dr Evans replied: “No. never happens. Insulin is always given in a 50ml syringe driver.”

    Jurors were told that Child F was the only baby who was receiving TPN on the night shift on which he was allegedly poisoned.