Woman arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies at Cheshire hospital

A healthcare worker has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies at a neonatal unit in the Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire.

The woman, who is currently in custody, is also accused of attempting to kill a further six babies.

Cheshire Police is investigating the deaths of 17 babies in total, as well 15 “non-fatal collapses”, that occurred at the unit between March 2015 and July 2016.

Detective Inspector Paul Hughes, leading the inquiry, said: “We recognise that this investigation has a huge impact on all of the families, staff and patients at the hospital, as well as members of the public.

“Parents of all the babies are continuing to be kept fully updated and are being supported throughout the process by specially trained officers.

“This is an extremely difficult time for all the families and it is important to remember that, at the heart of this, there are a number of bereaved families seeking answers as to what happened to their children.”

A team of detectives have been investigating the suspicious deaths and collapses at the neonatal unit since May 2017.

Hughes added that there were “no set timescales” for when the case might conclude but that police “remain committed to carrying out a thorough investigation as soon as possible”.

The hospital’s medical director, Ian Harvey, said that staff were supporting the police with the investigation and that “we are confident the unit is safe to continue in its current form”.

The hospital carried out a number of independent expert medical reviews into the deaths before calling in police, amid concerns about mortality rates in the unit.

A report published in July 2016 by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) found significant gaps in medical and nursing rotas, reports The Cheshire Chronicle.