Senior figures at Harrogate District Hospital say they want to learn lessons from the Lucy Letby murders in order to prevent similar crimes from happening in Harrogate.
Harrogate hospital hoping to learn lessons from Lucy Letby murders Senior figures at Harrogate District Hospital say they want to learn lessons from the Lucy Letby murders in order to prevent similar crimes from happening in Harrogate. Letby is a former neonatal nurse who murdered seven infants and attempted to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016. She was sentenced to a whole life order last month. Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s board met yesterday afternoon at the Crown Plaza in Harrogate where the Letby case was top of the agenda. Emma Nunez, director of nursing and Jacqueline Andrews, executive medical director, gave a presentation that outlined what procedures the hospital has in place to spot patterns of behaviour and how it listens to concerns from staff. Ms Nunez said:
“It’s difficult to stand here and say we are completely assured that it couldn’t happen here, there’s not an organisation in the country that could say that. "However, through our good governance and staff engagement we are in a very good place.”She added that the trust has spent time looking at its quality governance, which has included establishing an end-of-life mortality committee to review deaths and prioritising its safeguarding committee. Ms Nunez said: “Mortality review is something nationally we’ve been asked to look at and how we monitor unexpected deaths.” Ms Andrews reassured the board that the hospital has the resources to identify anomalies in mortality data which could lead them to investigate potential crimes. She said:
“We get a lot of mortality data, we have easily accessible data and we get a monthly alert on any mortality that’s an outlier. "We do a deep dive into every one of them.”Several doctors in Chester who worked alongside Letby said they tried to raise the alarm with hospital managers but were ignored. Ms Nunez said the trust holds weekly talking sessions with staff where they can speak to managers. She said she believes the trust fosters a culture where staff are able to voice concerns but she admitted there were still members of staff that were difficult to reach. She said:
“We have quite a flat structure where it’s not unusual to see staff openly have concerns with executive team. "At back of mind, what about the ones who are more difficult to reach? That’s the question we need to ask ourselves, how do we reach those people?”By Thomas Barrett, Local Democracy Reporter Read more local stories from Your Harrogate here.
LNER funds new van for foodbank charity
Record-breaking year for Harrogate supercar financier
Harrogate care home hosts Santa’s grotto for children and staff
What trains will run through Harrogate over Christmas?
Luxury Harrogate salon rebrands following change in ownership
Plans progress for new Day Case Surgery at Harrogate Hospital
'Warm Spaces' initiative to combat loneliness launches in Harrogate
Christmas coffee morning raises over £1,100 for Saint Michael's Hospice
Harrogate's Woods Fine Linens named one of UK’s best independents
Local businessman delivers Christmas gifts to elderly Harrogate residents
Harrogate venue named one of top festive pubs in UK
Redline Specialist Cars Christmas raffle raises £10,000 for local hospice
Hospice officially opens new Boroughbridge shop
Knaresborough woman's appeal to find missing ashes ring
Harrogate pupils raise £386 for charity through Christmas Carols
Santa Paws: Festive photo competition winner revealed
New premises will lead to expansion for Harrogate hearing specialist
Council grants £1,000 for Ripon history project
Harrogate community comes together to keep town's Christmas spirit alive
Yorkshire Air Ambulance welcomes new helicopter to its fleet
