'Hope Tony got stuck in and helped'Part two from yesterdays testimony:
![]()
Recap: Lucy Letby trial, Friday, February 10
The trial of Lucy Letby, who denies murdering seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit and attempting to murder 10 more,…www.chesterstandard.co.uk
Letby says, in a message to a colleague, she had not had a good shift, as Child J had '2 profound desats' and there were 'only 5 staff' on duty.
The colleague replies: 'We closed again then? x'
Mr Johnson explains to the court 'closed' by this definition means the unit would be closed to new arrivals, not closed entirely.
Letby confirms the unit is closed until they can get someone in.
7:41am
A note is made at 7.15am recording that the parents of Child J are informed of the collapse and to come to the hospital as soon as possible.
Child J had a further collapse at about 7.24pm. Dr John Gibbs records the event in his notes.
Resuscitation efforts are made and a range of medication is administered, while observations are recorded and an x-ray made.
Letby is recorded as using her swipe card at the neonatal unit acess door at 8.55am.
Lucy Letby messages Jennifer Jones-Key just before 10.30am: "Wow it turned manic - left at 9.15 but others still there."
The reply: "Warned you..don't know what it is", adding that things seem to go "pear-shaped".
Jennifer Jones-Key messages Letby saying, of the staffing situation, 'more staff will just go off sick'.
A colleague of Letby messages her on the afternoon of November 27 to say: 'Oh and Tony Chambers n some woman turned up earlier! x'
Letby replies: 'Gosh it's mad. At least things are moving in right direction. Is it bit calmer now? Still only 5 tonight? Hope Tony got stuck in and helped!!'
Comes off to me like she's shutting this conversation down. Is she not interested in the nature of his visit? Especially given how 'stretched' the ward is.
Usually CEO's only come into wards for things like special achievements or photographs.
As a CEO, pretty sure he would be the last person to step in clinically. Even if he does have a nursing background.