Lucy Latby-Bass admits to ‘cross’ letter to children’s families.

The former medical director of the hospital where Lucy Letby killed the children has admitted that his interactions with the children’s families were “rude and inappropriate”.

Ian Harvey was the most senior doctor at the Countess of Chester Hospital when the nurse killed seven children and attempted to kill seven others between 2015 and 2016.

Giving evidence at a public inquiry into the crimes, he admitted a letter to the families – which included a page with medical notes regarding the review of the child’s death – was “thoughtless and insensitive”.

“All I would say is that we wanted to share information as quickly as possible,” he said.

“We were aware that there was an extraordinary delay but I accept that the manner in which it was done does not excuse it.”

He described a letter from the mother of one of the children, who was begging him for information, as “heartbreaking”.

Now retired, Mr Harvey denies withholding information from the children’s families and concealing consultants’ warnings about Letby.

He also denied threatening to hand doctors over to the General Medical Council regulator, adding that Letby’s father, John, had done so.

However, Mr Harvey admitted failing in his duty of care to the children who were trying to raise the alarm about Latby, who he noted was often present when the children were suddenly and unwell. were expected to die or come close to death;

He said his biggest career regret was the breakdown of relationships between executives and consultants, and apologized to the consultants “if they scared him”.

Latby’s lawsuit resulted in the nurse injecting air into two triplet boys – known as Baby O and Baby P – in June 2016.

The inquest heard that the new clinical lead, Dr Stephen Breary, had raised concerns about Latby at a meeting on May 11 a month earlier.

Dr Brerey previously told the inquiry that he felt the number of deaths in 2015 and early 2016 was “unusual” and highlighted to Mr Harvey that it was “unusual” that six of the nine deaths were half- Happened between night and 4 am.

She said he told her there had been several reviews, including one by an outside neonatologist, and the only common theme was Latby who was on duty.

Mr Harvey said that “my recollection of the meeting was not up to par” and he did not recall Dr Brerey being “so detailed or that assertive”.

Inquest barrister Rachel Langdale QC told Mr Harvey that Bebo and BBP “should never have died after the May 11 meeting, should they?”

“[Letby] could have walked out of the ward and then been referred to the police,” he added.

Mr Harvey said: “I would not accept as a result of that meeting, the discussions we had and the approach taken by Dr Breary and the nursing staff, that there was anything that would support such an action. used to

“Dr Brerey was fully supportive of the action that came out of the meeting and highlighted that one action was the reporting of any further falls or incidents.”

Mr Harvey added: “At no stage during that meeting did I feel that this was being reported because it was feared that Latby was responsible for the deaths.”

Letby was eventually moved to a management role in July 2016 when executives met after all the consultant paediatricians had died.

Ms Langdale KC also asked Mr Harvey if he had asked the children’s parents for permission to use their children’s medical records in a case note review of some unexpected deaths in the neonatal unit.

Mr Harvey said he could not remember whether he had done it but, when pressed by Ms Langdale, said: “I would have definitely commissioned it.

“I have no recollection of following through. If I didn’t, it’s a huge mistake on my part and I’m very sorry for that.

He was also asked why he went ahead with a review of the neonatal unit by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health when reviewers told him they could not directly account for unexpected deaths and falls. .

Ms Langdale said: “You were spending money and time on a review that didn’t answer the question at hand. [that consultants paediatricians were concerned that Letby was deliberately harming babies]?

Mr Harvey replied: “With relevant expertise, both medical and nursing, it was absolutely appropriate to explore the full range of possible causes.”

He was also asked why he told a hospital committee that the Royal College had not recommended any immediate action on the rising deaths, when it had in fact told the hospital to conduct its own investigation into doctors’ concerns. Recommended to start.

Mr. Harvey responded that he didn’t think it was the kind of immediate concern where “he [The Royal College] Say you have to take action before we leave the building or stop this service now.”

Ms Langdale told Mr Harvey that, under her medical directorship, doctors feared they would lose their jobs for raising patient safety concerns.

He replied: “I accept that I failed in the duty of care I should have offered to the animals.”

But he said he did not try to create an atmosphere of fear on the unit.

He also refused to tell Susan Gilby, who took over as chief executive at the hospital, to refer consultants to the General Medical Council.

“I didn’t say that,” he said.

The Thirlwall Inquiry, sitting at Liverpool Town Hall, continues.