LONDON -- British police say a health care worker has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and trying to kill another six at a hospital neonatal unit in northwest England. Detectives have been investigating baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester for more than a year. Cheshire Constabulary said officers arrested a female "health care professional" Tuesday on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. The force did not identify the woman or give details of her job. Detectives began investigating the deaths of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester more than a year ago, after the hospital reported a higher than expected mortality rate, which it could not explain, on the unit that cares for premature babies and infants needing special care. The hospital asked police to "rule out unnatural causes of death." The investigation initially focused on the deaths of eight babies. Police said Tuesday that the force is now investigating the deaths of 17 babies and 15 "non-fatal collapses" at the unit between March 2015 and July 2016. Cheshire Constabulary said officers arrested a female "health care professional" Tuesday morning on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. The force did not identify the woman or give details of her job. Detective Inspector Paul Hughes said the arrest was a "significant step forward" in a "highly complex and very sensitive investigation." After the spike in deaths the hospital stopped delivering babies before 32 weeks of pregnancy, transferring the expectant mothers to other hospitals. Before police were called in, a review by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health found staffing gaps at the hospital for high-dependency and some intensive care patients but no definitive explanation for the baby deaths. Hospital medical director Ian Harvey said "asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want."<doc-sep>Woman arrested on suspicion of murdering 8 babies named as 28-year-old nurse The woman suspected of killing eight babies at a hospital in the north of England has been named by local media as 28-year-old Lucy Letby. Ms Letby has worked as a nurse at the neonatal unit at Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester since 2011. Advertisement She was arrested as part of an investigation into the deaths of 17 infants and the non-fatal collapse of 15 more at the hospital. Cheshire police have not confirmed the suspect's identity but say that she remains in custody. Police were seen at her home near the hospital and at her parents' home. They are believed to be searching her car as well as the house. A source within the British National Health Service (NHS) told The Telegraph that Ms Letby had been moved into an administrative role at the hospital in late 2016. "They moved her into admin, they didn't move her to another nursing position," the source said. "If they did think she was suspicious why didn't they suspend her?" Advertisement Her arrest came after an investigation was carried out at the neo-natal unit at Countess of Chester Hospital in Cheshire. Police began inquiries after a high number of deaths at the hospital between June 2015 and June 2016. The search has expanded and they are now looking into the deaths of 17 babies in total. "The investigation into the neonatal unit at The Countess of Chester Hospital is continuing," said Detective Inspector Paul Hughes, who is leading the inquiries. He said that police had spoken to a large number of people, including a number of medical specialists. Advertisement "Since it was first launched in May 2017, a dedicated team of detectives have been working tirelessly on this case. "This is a highly complex and very sensitive investigation and, as you can appreciate, we need to ensure we do everything we possibly can to try to establish in detail what has led to these baby deaths and collapses. "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." Advertisement<doc-sep>London: A British female healthcare worker has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and trying to murder six others after an investigation into deaths at a neonatal unit in northern England, UK police said on Tuesday. The arrest came after an inquiry into the deaths of 17 babies and 15 "non-fatal collapses" between March 2015 and July 2016 at The Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit. Seventeen babies died in just over a year at The Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit. Credit:Michelle Mossop "This is a highly complex and very sensitive investigation and, as you can appreciate, we need to ensure we do everything we possibly can to try to establish in detail what has led to these baby deaths and collapses," said Detective Inspector Paul Hughes in a statement. Police, who launched their investigation in May last year, would not give further details about the arrested woman, who was simply described as a healthcare professional. Hughes said the investigation was still "very much active".<doc-sep>Police investigating the suspicious deaths of eight babies at a Cheshire neonatal unit have searched the home of the parents of a nurse who works at the facility. Officers have searched the home of Lucy Letby and that of her parents in connection with the investigation. A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering eight babies and attempting to murder six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital during 2015 and 2016. A blue tent was was erected outside her £180,000 home in Chester yesterday morning. Police are searching the home of nurse Lucy Letby as part of the investigation into the deaths of 17 babies at a Cheshire neonatal unit Police are searching a property in Chester after arresting a healthcare worker on suspicion of murdering eight babies at a city hospital Police were seen outside the property which neighbours said was home to a woman Police today confirmed they had arrested a woman who they described only as 'a healthcare professional' yesterday morning. They have not said whether the woman is a nurse, doctor or worked in another role. She is being questioned of suspicion of having murdered eight of the children and attempting to murder six others. According to The Sun, Cheshire Police confirmed the arrest was made on the same street where the blue forensics tent has been erected. The suspect is being questioned of suspicion of having murdered eight of the children and attempting to murder six others. Police spent the day searching Ms Letby's £180,000 home, which is about a mile from the Countess of Chester Hospital. An NHS source told the Times, Ms Letby was transferred from clinical duties in late 2016. The source said: 'They moved her into admin, they didn't move her to another nursing position. If they did think she was suspicious why didn't they suspend her'. Ms Letby qualified as a nurse from the University of Chester in 2011 In a profile piece for a local newspaper Ms Letby said: 'My role involves caring for a wide range of babies requiring various levels of support' Detective Inspector Paul Hughes, who is in charge of the investigation, described the arrest as a 'significant step forward'. He revealed the scope of the probe had been widened since police took up the case and they are now examining the care of 32 babies, 17 of whom had died. DI Hughes said: 'When the investigation was first launched it was focusing on the deaths of 15 babies that occurred between the period of June 2015 and June 2016. 'In addition the investigation was also conducting a review of six non-fatal collapses during the same period. 'Since the start of our enquiries and, as the information gathering process has continued, the scope of the investigation has now widened. 'We are now currently investigating the deaths of 17 babies and 15 non-fatal collapses between the period of March 2015 and July 2016.' Police have also visited the home of Ms Letby's parents in Hereford, pictured A police officer was also seen outside the hospital at the centre of the probe today He described the case as 'highly complex and very sensitive', adding: '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.' Five years ago, Miss Letby was chosen as the face of a campaign to raise £3 million for the unit, which cared for premature or poorly babies. At the time, she said: ‘I enjoy seeing them progress and supporting their families.’ Shocked neighbours of Miss Letby’s parents in Hereford described her as ‘very career-driven’, and said she had been dedicated about getting a job in the NHS. Solicitors representing some of the bereaved parents said they were ‘hopeful the investigation can provide answers’. At 6am yesterday, police arrived at Miss Letby’s modern £180,000 three-bedroom semi-detached house in Chester, about a mile from the hospital. A car with an NHS parking permit in the windscreen was moved from the driveway as a police tent was erected, and officers were seen removing items from the property. One neighbour said: ‘I was woken by a police car arriving. This is a very quiet road and you don’t expect it to happen right on your street.’ Interviewed in 2013, Miss Letby said she had worked at the neonatal unit since graduating as a children’s nurse from the University of Chester two years previously. Pictured holding a tiny sleepsuit in support of a local newspaper’s fundraising appeal, she added: ‘My role involves caring for a wide range of babies requiring various levels of support. ‘Some are here for a few days, others for many months and I enjoy seeing them progress and supporting their families. I am currently undergoing extra training in order to develop and enhance my knowledge and skills within the intensive care area.’ In 2011, her parents, John and Susan, posted a message in their local newspaper along with a picture of their daughter proudly wearing her mortar board hat to congratulate her on graduating with honours. Officers were yesterday speaking to Mr Letby, 73, and his 58-year-old wife at their home. One neighbour said their only child was ‘a very career-driven person’, describing her as ‘so dedicated to her job’. ‘Her parents have been my neighbours for at least 25 years, so I watched Lucy grow up,’ she said. ‘Lucy lives away but visits them frequently as any good daughter would. They adored her ... they’d just got back from a week-long holiday in Torquay.’ She added: ‘I just truly can’t believe it. She was a delight. Her parents must be going through hell.’<doc-sep>
Police in England have arrested a healthcare worker on suspicion of murdering eight babies at a hospital. The worker is also suspected of attempting to kill another six at the Countess of Chester hospital in Cheshire, in the north-west of the country. In May 2017, police started investigating the suspicious deaths of 15 babies and six non-fatal collapses, although this probe has now widened to cover the deaths of 17 babies and 15 non-fatal collapses between March 2015 and July 2016. Detective Inspector Paul Hughes from Cheshire Police said: "Whilst this is a significant step forward in our inquiries, it is important to remember that the investigation is very much active and ongoing at this stage." "There are no set timescales for this coming to a conclusion but we remain committed to carrying out a thorough investigation as soon as possible," Sky News reported. Police have not said if the arrested woman is a nurse, doctor or other health professional. "We recognize 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." "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," Hughes added. Ian Harvey, medical director of the Countess of Chester hospital, said the hospital was supporting the police. "Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want," he said. "The Countess is now equivalent to a level one special care baby unit and we are confident the unit is safe to continue in its current form." A report in May by the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health said that there was in inadequate staffing at the hospital's neonatal unit and said there were gaps in medical and nursing rotas, poor decision-making and insufficient senior cover, The Guardian reported. The hospital had carried out several independent expert medical reviews into the deaths before alerting the police. "Asking the police to look into this was not something we did lightly, but we need to do everything we can to understand what has happened here and get the answers we and the families so desperately want," Harvey said in a statement. Police say that the parents of the babies were being supported by specially trained officers during the investigation.