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| Lucy Letby: Nurse hovered over baby night before her death, jury told | Lucy Letby: Nurse hovered over baby night before her death, jury told |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Lucy Letby is accused of murdering seven babies and trying to kill 10 others | Lucy Letby is accused of murdering seven babies and trying to kill 10 others |
| A mother whose baby was allegedly murdered by Lucy Letby has described seeing the nurse "hovering" over her daughter the evening before she died. | A mother whose baby was allegedly murdered by Lucy Letby has described seeing the nurse "hovering" over her daughter the evening before she died. |
| It is alleged that Ms Letby injected air into the bloodstream of the baby, known only as Child D, at the Countess of Chester Hospital in June 2015. | It is alleged that Ms Letby injected air into the bloodstream of the baby, known only as Child D, at the Countess of Chester Hospital in June 2015. |
| She has been charged with murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the hospital between 2015 and 2016. | She has been charged with murdering seven babies and attempting to murder 10 others at the hospital between 2015 and 2016. |
| Ms Letby, 32, denies 22 charges. | Ms Letby, 32, denies 22 charges. |
| The prosecution allege Child D was the third child murdered by the nurse in a two-week period, with another baby suffering a life-threatening collapse during that time. | The prosecution allege Child D was the third child murdered by the nurse in a two-week period, with another baby suffering a life-threatening collapse during that time. |
| Child D's mother recalled seeing Ms Letby, originally from Hereford, in the neonatal unit hours before her daughter's death. | |
| She told Manchester Crown Court: "I was pushed in (to the neonatal unit), she was sort of hovering around (my baby) but not doing much. | She told Manchester Crown Court: "I was pushed in (to the neonatal unit), she was sort of hovering around (my baby) but not doing much. |
| "She had a clipboard to take notes and she sort of was looking at a machine, but I didn't understand what she was doing. | "She had a clipboard to take notes and she sort of was looking at a machine, but I didn't understand what she was doing. |
| "I asked if everything was OK and she said 'yes, she's fine'. | "I asked if everything was OK and she said 'yes, she's fine'. |
| "I would have expected her to leave us but she just stuck around and was sort of just watching, looking over us. | "I would have expected her to leave us but she just stuck around and was sort of just watching, looking over us. |
| "I wanted to tell her to go away, to give us some privacy." | "I wanted to tell her to go away, to give us some privacy." |
| The baby's mother earlier told the court how she had been waiting for more than 50 hours for treatment after her waters had broken early. | The baby's mother earlier told the court how she had been waiting for more than 50 hours for treatment after her waters had broken early. |
| The jury heard the mother was initially sent away from the hospital but returned 24 hours later because she "didn't feel right". | The jury heard the mother was initially sent away from the hospital but returned 24 hours later because she "didn't feel right". |
| "The baby didn't seem to move as well," she said. "I was concerned for infection because I hadn't been given any antibiotics." | "The baby didn't seem to move as well," she said. "I was concerned for infection because I hadn't been given any antibiotics." |
| While the woman was assessed by midwives, she said she had to wait another 24 hours. | While the woman was assessed by midwives, she said she had to wait another 24 hours. |
| "I felt very worried and scared, I felt unwell and not in control. I felt I was being forgotten by the staff," she said. | "I felt very worried and scared, I felt unwell and not in control. I felt I was being forgotten by the staff," she said. |
| After 50 hours, doctors took the decision to deliver Child D via a Caesarean section. | After 50 hours, doctors took the decision to deliver Child D via a Caesarean section. |
| Recalling the moment her daughter was shown to her in the delivery room, she said: "She seemed very lifeless, she didn't scream, there was no sound, everything was quiet in the room." | Recalling the moment her daughter was shown to her in the delivery room, she said: "She seemed very lifeless, she didn't scream, there was no sound, everything was quiet in the room." |
| Lucy Letby denies 22 charges | Lucy Letby denies 22 charges |
| After being moved to a ward, the mother was given the chance to hold her daughter for the first time. | After being moved to a ward, the mother was given the chance to hold her daughter for the first time. |
| "I had her, skin to skin, she didn't really have any movement, she was quite limp, she didn't have a good colour and she seemed to struggle to breathe. | "I had her, skin to skin, she didn't really have any movement, she was quite limp, she didn't have a good colour and she seemed to struggle to breathe. |
| "I tried to breast feed but she was completely limp, so yes I was quite worried. | "I tried to breast feed but she was completely limp, so yes I was quite worried. |
| "I was told by a doctor that I didn't need to worry, she was OK, her condition was due to being delivered through C-section. | "I was told by a doctor that I didn't need to worry, she was OK, her condition was due to being delivered through C-section. |
| "I didn't believe what he said, I was not happy. It was careless, blasé," she said. | "I didn't believe what he said, I was not happy. It was careless, blasé," she said. |
| Child D initially responded well to treatment, but later deteriorated and collapsed three times. | Child D initially responded well to treatment, but later deteriorated and collapsed three times. |
| 'Danger of dying' | 'Danger of dying' |
| The mother told the court that she was woken in the early hours of the morning by a nurse "who was in a panic". | The mother told the court that she was woken in the early hours of the morning by a nurse "who was in a panic". |
| She arrived at the intensive care unit with Child D's father as doctors were desperately trying to resuscitate the infant. | She arrived at the intensive care unit with Child D's father as doctors were desperately trying to resuscitate the infant. |
| "We were just standing there looking as (Child D) was dying, someone was holding a phone to his ear, then a doctor told them to stop," she said. | "We were just standing there looking as (Child D) was dying, someone was holding a phone to his ear, then a doctor told them to stop," she said. |
| In a statement, Child D's father said: "I was never given the impression that (her) condition was life-threatening and it didn't even cross my mind that she was in danger of dying. | In a statement, Child D's father said: "I was never given the impression that (her) condition was life-threatening and it didn't even cross my mind that she was in danger of dying. |
| "When she died, we just were not prepared for it." | "When she died, we just were not prepared for it." |
| 'Bit numb' | |
| Jurors at Manchester Crown Court were later shown a series of text messages between Ms Letby and colleagues in the hours after the Child D's death. | |
| One message, sent by Ms Letby at 08:36, said: "We had such a rubbish night. Our job is just far too sad sometimes." | |
| The colleague replied: "No what happened?" | |
| Ms Letby replied: "We lost [Child D]." | |
| The colleague: "What!!!! But she was improving. What happened? Wanna chat? I can't believe you were on again. You are having such a tough time." | |
| Ms Letby then referred to Child D being "messed about a couple of times" and referred to a rash that "looked like overwhelming sepsis". | |
| She said it had been a "shock", adding "feel a bit numb this time". | |
| In the messages, Ms Letby said her job had "so many positives" but sometimes she wondered "how do such sick babies get through and others just die so unexpectedly". | |
| "I think there is an element of fate involved. There is a reason for everything," she added. | |
| Her colleague went on to respond saying: "You go to bed, you're an excellent nurse Lucy, don't forget it." | |
| A court order bans the reporting of the identities of the children allegedly attacked by Ms Letby, while identifying parents or witnesses connected with the children is also not allowed. | A court order bans the reporting of the identities of the children allegedly attacked by Ms Letby, while identifying parents or witnesses connected with the children is also not allowed. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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