Carl and Clare Bolton met with senior medical staff at the Countess of Chester Hospital seven years ago seeking reassurance about their daughter Jessica's early days. They learned that Lucy Letby, a nurse later convicted of murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, had acted to save their daughter twice.
Jessica had been born prematurely and experienced critical deterioration twice within her first 24 hours on the neonatal unit. The Boltons were informed that Letby, who was the lead nurse on Jessica's case, intervened on both occasions, with one instance described as going "above and beyond the call of duty."
The couple's experience comes as voices questioning the safety of Letby's conviction grow louder. The Thirlwall Inquiry concluded its hearings last year, with its report and recommendations expected on August 21. Concurrently, the Criminal Cases Review Commission is evaluating the case for a potential retrial, based on new evidence presented by neonatology experts.
Letby was arrested in July 2018 on suspicion of infant deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The Boltons, who recalled Letby as a quietly spoken and kind nurse during their daughter's stay, contacted Cheshire Police. They were assured Jessica was not part of the investigation.
Reflecting on the unit, the Boltons described it as chaotic, understaffed, and visibly struggling. They noted that many of the staff appeared inexperienced, and they rarely saw an actual doctor. They recounted an instance where a nearby baby stopped breathing, and nurses were unsure of the cause.
Letby's interaction with them stood out due to her willingness to explain Jessica's care. "She was the one who took the time to talk to us as parents who wanted to understand our daughter’s care," Carl Bolton said. He added that other staff often gave dismissive responses, such as "She’s absolutely fine, just go and rest."
Years after their daughter's discharge, the Boltons learned the full extent of Jessica's critical condition, including two emergency interventions and intubation, details they were not fully aware of at the time. They also discovered that the hospital's scales were incorrect, leading to inaccurate birth weight recordings for newborns.
Clare Bolton expressed concern about whether hospital staff knew about wider unit problems before Jessica's admission, a claim denied by a doctor at the time, despite consultants reportedly raising concerns for at least a year prior. The couple also learned about "pale moments" Jessica experienced, which they later understood to be silent reflux, a condition not fully explained to them initially.
Their experience has led to years of anxiety and over-protectiveness. "Even when she started school I’d walk away wondering, ‘Did she actually go in?’ I’d have to convince myself to go home," Clare Bolton stated.
The Boltons have attempted to share their experiences with police and Letby's defense team, seeking transparency and answers. "Parents shouldn’t have to spend years pushing to discover what happened to their own baby," Carl Bolton said, hoping their account might help other families ask difficult questions.
Lucy Letby is currently serving 15 whole life sentences in Bronzefield Prison, Surrey. The couple has stated they do not know if Letby is innocent or guilty, but they know she saved their child and cannot comment on the other cases. They believe she was knowledgeable and attentive during a period when the unit was clearly struggling.
"From our perspective, she was the person who seemed to know what she was doing on that unit and who took the time to explain what was happening while working in a place that was clearly struggling," Carl Bolton commented.
"We don’t know whether Lucy Letby is innocent or guilty – all we know is that she saved our child and we can’t comment on the other cases," says Carl.
Today, thankfully, they are the parents of a bright, dance-mad, ten-year-old daughter who they describe as ‘the centre of our lives’.
