Mum 'sick' after learning Letby cared for her baby

A mum has said she felt "physically sick" after discovering serial killer Lucy Letby cared for her baby the day before being removed from the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit.

Letby is serving a whole-life term for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six others in 2015 and 2016.

An appeal against her convictions is due to be heard in April.

Nicola Tarran, 39, from Hope, Flintshire, said her daughter Emily suffered lack of oxygen and low blood sugar but recovered after being taken to another hospital.

Mrs Tarran said she contacted police after recently finding Letby's name on medical notes and learned the force had found no evidence her daughter had been harmed.

Emily was born at the Countess of Chester Hospital on 29 June 2016, a day before Letby's last shift.

Because she was born prematurely, she was taken to the neonatal ward where Letby was working.

Mrs Tarran said it was only when looking for Emily's discharge notes she realised who the nurse was.

She said: "My heart came out of my mouth. [I felt] physically sick thinking my daughter was in her hands."

Mrs Tarran said she was concerned no-one involved in the investigation into Letby had contacted her to warn her that Emily's case was being looked into.

She said: "I think parents should have been informed.

"It's always been in the back of our mind, 'what if?'

"And then finding out all these years later that our child was investigated and we didn't have a clue. I think the parents need to know."

Cheshire Constabulary said it was continuing to review the units where Letby worked, adding: "During the course of the review if anything of concern medically is identified then the relevant family would be contacted by the investigation team as part of the process."

Despite some serious health problems at the Countess of Chester Hospital, Nicola said Emily stabilised after being taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital in Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire.

Emily is now a "hilarious little girl full of attitude, sass and temper. She's absolutely beautiful", Mrs Tarran said.

She still suffers from lung problems and severe sleep apnoea.

Her parents want to ask the hospital if they could have been caused by Letby.

She said: "I'm worried that they've known something. They wanted her (Emily) out pretty quick. That's my gut feeling."

The Countess of Chester Hospital has declined to comment.

Mrs Tarran said despite the shock of her chance discovery she was aware that other parents were suffering far more.

"I just think of the parents who have lost their babies that she's killed.

"It's really heart-breaking to think that could have been Emily.

"I feel bad knowing that she's cared for her, but being a parent of a child that was killed - I just can't comprehend it."