Lucy Letby initially failed her scholar nurse placement aftero lack of empathy, inquiry finds | EUROtoday

Lucy Letby initially failed her last 12 months placement as a scholar nurse after her perceived lack of empathy with sufferers and households, a public inquiry has revealed.

Letby’s assessor, Nicola Lightfoot, deputy ward supervisor on the Countess of Chester Hospital’s youngsters’s unit, advised the inquiry it was obvious to her that Letby, who was later convicted of a number of toddler murders, didn’t have the “overall characteristics” to turn into a profitable registered nurse.

She testified on the Thirlwall Inquiry that Letby lacked the important qualities of a profitable registered nurse.

“I found Lucy to be quite cold. I did not find a natural warmth exuding from her which I expect from a children’s nurse,” she mentioned.

Ms Lightfoot famous that whereas some college students excel academically, they might battle with the interpersonal expertise needed for pediatric care, together with empathy, kindness, and the flexibility to construct relationships with households.

She additionally highlighted Letby’s insufficient medical information, citing her difficulties with treatment dosages and recognising drug unwanted side effects.

In her July 2011 report, Lightfoot wrote: “At the moment Lucy requires much more support, prompting, and supervision than I would expect at this stage to allow her to qualify as a competent practitioner.” However, she expressed hope that with continued effort, Letby may enhance.

Students who failed their last placements had been allowed to retake them. Letby handed her remaining competencies throughout a four-week placement beneath a distinct supervisor, which she requested after feeling “intimidated” by Ms Lightfoot.

Ms Lightfoot was unsurprised by this, acknowledging her position in rigorously difficult college students.

“I felt I couldn’t objectively continue as Lucy’s mentor, and she felt the same, because I genuinely did not think in four weeks she would be at a level to sign her off,” she mentioned.

Sarah Jane Murphy, Letby’s subsequent mentor, described Lightfoot as a extremely skilled nurse who wouldn’t fail a scholar with out justification. Ms Murphy admitted to feeling conflicted about passing Letby, regardless of constructive suggestions from different employees members.

Ms Murphy, who additionally mentored Letby throughout her first 12 months, recalled her as quiet and shy, missing interpersonal expertise with youngsters, dad and mom, and colleagues. She attributed this to Letby’s youth and inexperience, noting her tendency to linger across the nurses’ station with an expressionless manner.

At the top of Letby’s first placement, Ms Murphy suggested her to enhance her communication expertise, particularly with youngsters and their households.

Lightfoot recounted an unsettling incident following the deaths of two triplet boys in June 2016. She overheard Letby make an “inappropriate” remark, which she described as sounding excited in regards to the tragic occasions. “It wasn’t an appropriate response to the death of a child,” Ms Lightfoot mentioned, noting that she had by no means witnessed such a response from a nurse concerned in a affected person’s demise.

Letby, now 34, is serving 15 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven infants and trying to homicide seven others between June 2015 and June 2016.

The Thirlwall Inquiry is about to proceed at Liverpool Town Hall till early subsequent 12 months, with findings anticipated to be revealed by late autumn 2025.