Lucy Letby: Nurse 'commended' for work during 'stressful situation'

Letby, 33, who denies murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 more between June 2015 and June 2016, is on trial at Manchester Crown Court, with the case expected to last until May.

This week, as part of the prosecution's case involving a baby girl, 'Child H', in September 2015, text messages have been shown to members of the jury as part of a sequence of events. The Whatsapp and Facebook Messenger messages were recovered from Letby's phone at the time of her arrest in 2018, along with other data.

The prosecution case is Letby twice attempted to murder Child H – who cannot be named – at the Countess of Chester Hospital in the early hours of September 26 and 27, 2015, before the baby girl was transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital. The court previously heard the father of Child H say her daughter came on "in leaps and bounds", following events where the baby stopped breathing and crash calls were made at the neonatal unit.

Benjamin Myers KC, for Letby's defence, say Letby denies attempting to murder Child H. In his opening address, he said Child H was another example of “sub-optimal care” by the Countess of Chester and was “nothing to do with Lucy Letby”.

The text messages showed Letby messaging a colleague to say she was working an extra night shift on September 23. The following morning, referring to the number of babies at the neonatal unit and the staffing levels, Letby messaged a colleague to say: "It's completely unsafe."

She then messaged a friend to say: "I won't be able to make to hula hoop [exercise] – work mad so doing extra nights x".

Letby messaged colleague Sophie Ellis: "Oh Soph it was pretty bad – 18 babies, intubating on handover & baby with a sugar [reading] of 0.1! On again tonight tomorrow & Sat. Not had chance to see Corrie [Coronation Street], was it good? Xx"

'Hard work'

On Friday, September 25, Letby messaged colleague Alisa Simpson: "Sorry didn't reply last night – you've certainly picked right week to be on hols!! Haha. ... Hope you are lucky with Glastonbury. I got tickets for Ellie at Echo :) xx"

At 3.22am on Saturday, September 26, the court has previously heard child H suffered "a profound collapse which required a full resuscitation".

Later that morning, neonatal unit manager Yvonne Griffiths messaged Letby after the latter's night shift, just before 9am: "Hope you have a good sleep. I just want to commend you for all you hard work these last few nights. You composed yourself very well during a stressful situation. It's nice to see your confidence grow as you advance through your career x"

'Quite upsetting'

Letby messages a colleague, who cannot be named, asking her how she should reply. The conversation alludes to a disagreement among the neonatal unit staff regarding a Christening for one of the babies in the unit.

Letby responds to Ms Griffiths: "Thank you. That's really nice to hear as I gather you are aware of some of the not so positive comments that have been made recently regarding my role which I have found quite upsetting.

"Our job is a pleasure to do & just hope I do the best for the babies & their Family. Thank you to you & [another colleague] for your support X".

Letby messages her colleague: "Im still frustrated/upset with what's gone on but don't think such rubbish nights & being tired help"

Her colleague responds: "Good reply as it's important they know about the bitchiness which is all it is. Yes re tired..."

The colleague added: "Anyway. You're a star. You e done yourself proud. You've given positive memories to the family whatever the outcome. Let's hope they can tease her in a few yrs about her 'attention seeking' ways. Sleep well. Xx

"Always a pleasure to work with you even if we're a '[s***] magnet' team".

Child H, the court heard, suffered two further episodes of profound desaturation at 12.55am and 3.30am on Sunday, September 27.

Letby messaged Alison Ventress and another colleague just after 11am that day to say Child H "had resus again", but it was not as bad/long-lasting, and she was transferred to Arrowe Park.

Ms Ventress replied: "Oh crap. Do they know why she did it this time? I'm glad she's been transferred! How are you? Really rough set of nights for you. Xxx"

Letby replied: "No did exactly what she did for us , desat then didn't pick up & dropped heartrate. Looked fine again after though but made decision to transfer which I think was sensible! X"

Letby messaged her other colleague to add: "None of us had breaks what with [Child H], transfer and then this...

"It's all just so rubbish lately isn't it. And always seems to happen at night when.less people

"I think everyone is pretty burnt out and unit Been awful. Yvonne working way more than she should."

Letby and her colleague than discuss about looking "at a change of unit".

Letby messaged her colleague: "I still think about the women's. if only it were closer, would make decision much easier"

Alison Ventress messaged Letby at 1.11pm on Sunday: "Try to think of all the babies you've saved and have gone home happily with their parents. You're a fab nurse. Hope you manage some sleep xxx"

The trial of Letby, originally from Hereford, continues.