How Indian-Origin Doctor Helped Expose Nurse Who Killed Babies

Lucy Letby, a 33-year-old nurse was convicted of murdering seven newborn babies and charged with seven counts of murder attempts on 6 other babies in Machester by the jury of Crown Court. 

Indian-origin paediatrician Dr Jayaram who raised the alarm over concerns of the killing of babies says more lives would have been saved if police took him seriously sooner. 

Serial Baby Killer Nurse In the UK:

Dr Jayaram said concerns were first raised when three babies died in June 2015. After more babies died, senior doctors, including him, alerted hospital executives about Letby's behaviour.

He claimed the hospital bosses asked him to 'draw a line' under his suspicions and apologise to Letby for alleged 'victimisation' in a mediation meeting. In April 2017, the National Health Service (NHS) trust let doctors talk to a police officer.

NHS realised this was a concerning matter that needed immediate action and their involvement, as said by Dr Jayaram. 

“I do genuinely believe that there are four or five babies who could be going to school now who aren't," he told ITV News in a television interview after the verdict.

Letby's Arrest And Trail In The Case:

Shortly after hearing the doctors the police probed into the matter and eventually, after investigation, Letby was first arrested in 2018 and was charged in November 2020. 

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the UK told the court that the 33-year-old nurse formerly working at Countess Chester Hospital used a variety of methods in a secret attempt to attack 13 babies in the neonatal ward of the hospital between 2015 and 2016. 

CPS also presented evidence against Letby using various methods of insulin poisoning and air injections, force-feeding and overdose of milk and fluids, and causing impact-type trauma. 

Many handwritten notes and medical documents were found at Letby's residence. Some notes read "I'm evil I did this", "today is your birthday and you are not here I am so sorry for that", and "I killed them on purpose as I am not good enough to take care of them." These notes gave insights into Letby's mindset and thoughts following the attacks. 

Besides these notes, CPS was also successful in presenting falsified medical documents and her social media activity to deceive her colleagues while she was the common denominator in the series of deaths of these babies. 

 Letby denied the accusations stating that she was being falsely accused to hide the hospital's failings.

The trial against Letby began in October 2022 at Manchester Crown Court and Letby was finally convicted on August 18 and will be sentenced by Machester court on Monday. 

Who Is Indian-Origin Doctor Ravi Jayaram?

Dr Jayaram is a Consultant Paediatrician at the Countess of Chester Hospital. As stated by Knight Ayton Management, Dr. Jayaram boasts an extensive 10-year tenure within the National Health Service. 

His foundational medical training took place in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, while his paediatric training unfolded across various locales, including the north-east of England, Bristol, New South Wales, and London. Over the course of six years, he has held the position of head of the paediatric department at his hospital, deeply immersing himself in medical administration. Dr. Jayaram's expertise spans a wide spectrum of child health matters, with a specific focus on asthma, cystic fibrosis, childhood lung disorders, behavioural paediatrics, medical education, and the care of critically ill children.

His biography on the management platform highlights his extensive understanding of broader healthcare delivery intricacies and the constantly evolving structure of the NHS. He was also featured on Channel 4 show 'How To Stay Well' and was also a guest on BBC's 'The One Show'. He describes himself as “a mediocre triathlete and wannabe rockstar.”

Suggested Reading: British Nurse Arrested For Murdering 7 Newborn Babies In One Year