A SENIOR doctor warned hospital chiefs that the ward where Lucy Letby murdered seven babies was “chaotic, overstretched and unsafe”.

       Paediatrician Dr Alison Timmis emailed the boss of the Countess of Chester in late 2015 to say staff were overwhelmed.

       1

       Nurse Lucy Letby was found guilty of the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of six others at the Countess of Chester Hospital Credit: PA

       She told Tony Chambers: “I have seen several colleagues in tears as they know that the care they are providing falls below their standards.

       “This is now our normal working pattern and it is not safe.”

       Letby, 33, is serving a whole life sentence for killing seven babies from June 2015 to June 2016.

       Lawyer Richard Scorer, representing two families whose babies were targeted, said: “This suggests there were serious problems of which Letby was able to take advantage.”

       READ MORE ON LUCY LETBY

       LUXURY BOLTHOLE Letby NHS chief retired with ￡1.8m pension to idyllic French home with pool

       ‘DISRESPECTFUL’ BBC slammed by viewers over comments about killer nurse Lucy Letby

       The government announced an inquiry into Letby will be held, but families of her victims want it to be statutory so hospital managers can be forced to attend, rather than simply asked.

       Cheshire Police has widened its investigation to examine whether she harmed any other children earlier in her career, with the Home Office giving them an additional ￡2.8m funds in support.

       Meanwhile cops in Birmingham are reviewing cases of patients at Birmingham Children’s Hospital following the sudden unexpected deaths of three children.

       A nurse aged 28 has been arrested on suspicion of administering a poison with intent to endanger life.

       Most read in The Sun

       oh baby! Laura Anderson gives birth to baby girl with Gary Lucy and reveals adorable name

       time to heel Real reason for Faye Winter and Maura Higgins' shock NTAs bust-up revealed

       WEDDY OR NOT Where MAFS UK couples are now… savage public dumping to shock 'abuse' claims

       OFF THE BOX Gogglebox couple QUIT as longest-running star stands down after 10 years on air

       Dr Fiona Reynolds, chief medical officer at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, said: "In May 2022, a child on the paediatric intensive care unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital deteriorated suddenly and unexpectedly. Due to the circumstances of the deterioration, the trust acted straight away.

       "A member of staff was suspended from work and subsequently arrested at home. Sadly, the child later died and our thoughts remain with the family."