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Enhancing Public Accountability: Key Elements of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2025
Kirsty Cook
Kingsley Napley’s James Bell has been interviewed by Shelagh Fogarty on LBC radio to give his views, as head of clinical negligence, on shocking evidence that the NHS failed to respond sufficiently to concerns raised by staff - including consultants - regarding neonatal nurse Lucy Letby. Letby has been convicted of the murder of seven newborn babies and the attempted murders of six more. A number of surviving victims have been left with life changing disabilities, including cerebral palsy.
In the interview James discusses the framework for dealing with untoward incidents within the NHS and it’s ‘duty of candour’. Questions have to be asked in the Inquiry as to what information was provided to families after the large number of deaths and near fatal incidents. He provides insight into the concerning trend for ‘whistle-blowers’ to be punished, as well as the detrimental power imbalance between hospital management and consultants. He deals with the fact that in this case the clear concerns of highly experienced doctors appear to have been overridden until the police finally became involved in mid-2016.
James also talks about the importance of involving patients - and in cases like these, the parents - in internal investigations.
Listen to the full interview here (James speaks from 02:35:16-02:46:30).
James has also been quoted in the Guardian in relation to possible compensation claims related to this case - read the article here.
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