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Lucy Letby: nurses tell court they did not give infant insulin

Colleagues give evidence about events leading up to marked deterioration in the condition of Child F after he received an intravenous feed

Colleagues give evidence about events leading up to marked deterioration in the condition of Child F after he received an intravenous feed

Lucy Letby Picture: Shutterstock

Three nurses have denied they gave insulin to a baby boy allegedly poisoned by their colleague Lucy Letby, a court has heard.

Each of the three gave evidence on Wednesday about their involvement in the care of the premature twin at the Countess of Chester Hospital’s neonatal unit.

Baby’s blood glucose brought under control

Shelley Tomlins, Sophie Ellis and Belinda Williamson were on duty in August 2015 in the days that followed the infant’s birth.

The prosecution claims Ms Letby attempted to murder the baby, referred to as Child F, by intentionally administering insulin shortly after midnight on 4 August 2015.

Manchester Crown Court heard Child F’s heart rate surged and his blood glucose levels dropped to a dangerously low level after he received a new intravenous feed including nutrients and sugar.

His glucose levels remained low during the day shift of 5 August after the intravenous line and a connected bag containing nutrients needed to be replaced after there was swelling to his leg.

Child F’s blood glucose rose to safe levels later that evening after the nutrients were stopped and extra sugar was given independently, the court was told. The infant went on to make a full recovery and was later discharged.

Access to padlocked fridge and locked cupboards

Ms Tomlins, who worked on the day shifts of 4 and 5 August, said stock nutrient bags would be kept in a padlocked fridge in the neonatal unit. The nursing shift leader would hold keys to the fridge and locked cupboards containing medication, but these would be passed around between nurses with no log of access, she said.

Prosecution counsel Philip Astbury asked the nurse: ‘Did you at any point in time administer insulin to (Child F)?’

Giving evidence from Australia via video link, Ms Tomlins replied: ‘No.’

Mr Astbury repeated the question to Ms Ellis, who was giving evidence from behind a screen. She had worked with Ms Letby on the night shift of 4 August.

Ms Ellis replied: ‘Absolutely not.’

Finally Mr Astbury asked Ms Williamson, the shift leader: ‘Did you during the course of the shift, at any stage, administer (Child F) any insulin?’

‘No,’ Ms Williamson said.

Nurse denies multiple charges of murder and attempted murder

Lucy Letby is accused of the attempted murder Child F less than 24 hours after she allegedly murdered his twin brother, Child E, by injecting air into his bloodstream.

She denies murdering seven babies and the attempted murders of ten others between June 2015 and June 2016.

The trial continues.


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