News
Ex-boss of Lucy Letby suspended from new role at Greater Manchester hospital
Ms Kelly was chief nurse at Countess of Chester Hospital while Letby went on her killing spree
The ex-boss of Lucy Letby has been suspended from her new role as an executive at one of Greater Manchester’s biggest hospital trusts, for ‘failing to act’, following the trial.
Alison Kelly worked at the Countess of Chester Hospital as chief nurse while Lucy Letby, 33, murdered seven babies and attempted to kill six more infants under her care in the neonatal unit, between June 2015 and June 2016.
Ms Kelly has now been suspended from her new position as director of nursing for Rochdale Care Organisation, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Salford Royal Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital and the Royal Oldham Hospital.
Nicky Clarke, Chief People Officer at Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, confirmed the news but declined to make ‘any further comment at this moment in time’.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “We welcome the independent inquiry announced by the Department of Health and Social Care into the events at the Countess of Chester and will cooperate fully to help ensure all lessons are learned.
“In light of information that has emerged during the trial of Lucy Letby, and the announcement of the independent inquiry, the Northern Care Alliance has suspended Alison Kelly.”
Letby, who is now considered the most prolific child killer of modern times, was sentenced on Monday, August 21st, to a whole life sentence after a lengthy 10-month trial. She will never be released from prison.
During the trial, prosecutors described Letby as a ‘calculated opportunist’ who used the vulnerabilities of premature and sick infants to help mask her acts.
Between 2015 and 2016, while Letby worked on the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital, there was a significant rise in the numbers of babies who suffered serious and unexpected collapses.
Letby was the only member of the nursing and clinical staff who was on duty each time the collapses happened, which the Crown argued were not natural events. She deliberately injected babies with air, poisoned two with insulin, and force fed others.
Staff raised concerns with bosses but those warnings were ignored, as the Sunday Times reported how, as early as March 2016, Ms Kelly was made aware of concerns by the neonatal ward manager about Letby being a ‘commonality’ in all of the deaths.
But staff were told not to ‘make a fuss’ and Letby continued to work on the neonatal unit despite the warnings. Then in July 2016 Letby was completely removed from working on the neonatal unit and moved to the hospital’s risk and patient safety office, never to return to the unit.
Ms Kelly, who has ‘over 30 years experience as a nurse’, is one of three directors from the Countess of Chester who have been publicly criticised, alongside retired former medical director Ian Harvey and former chief executive Tony Chamber.
The Sunday Times has also reported how after a crucial board meeting, held in January 2017, amid concerns about the deaths and collapses at the Countess of Chester, Letby had a victim statement read out to the board.
Non-executive director James Wilkie went to Ms Kelly, who was then the director of nursing, with further concerns, which she promised to escalate.
After Letby was removed from the unit, almost a year passed by before police were brought in.
Letby denied the offences but was convicted at Manchester Crown Court.
On Friday, Dr Nigel Scawn, Medical Director at the Countess of Chester Hospital, said: “Since Lucy Letby worked at our hospital, we have made significant changes to our services and I want to provide reassurance to every patient that may access our services that they can have confidence in the care that they will receive.”
We’re pleased to announce that Proper Manchester is rebranding as Finest City Guides.
As part of this change, the Proper Manchester brand, including its social media channels, will transition to the Finest City Guides name.
This is a rebrand of the existing platform rather than a new or unrelated business. The same team behind Proper Manchester will continue to operate Finest City Guides as we develop the platform under its new identity.
Previous name: Proper Manchester
New name: Finest City Guides
Our social channels and other brand assets will be updated to reflect the Finest City Guides name as part of this transition.
More from Finest City Guides coming soon.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
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