Alison Kelly was the nursing director at the Countess of Chester Hospital while nurse Letby killed the babies and attempted to murder six others between June 2015 and June 2016.

Ms Kelly had been working in a similar position at the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Salford Royal Hospital and Royal Oldham Hospital, before she was suspended this morning.

An NHS England spokesperson said: "We welcome the independent inquiry announced by the Department of Health and Social Care into the events at the Countess of Chester and will cooperate fully to help ensure all lessons are learned.

"In light of information that has emerged during the trial of Lucy Letby, and the announcement of the independent inquiry, the Northern Care Alliance has suspended Alison Kelly."

'Sadistic' Letby refusing to leave cells - follow live sentencing updates

Letby not removed from unit after concerns were raised

The number of babies who suffered serious and unexpected collapses in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital increased significantly between 2015 and 2016.

Letby's presence when collapses took place was first mentioned to senior management by the unit's head consultant in late June 2015.

Concerns among some consultants about the nurse increased and were voiced to hospital bosses when more unexplained and unusual collapses followed, Manchester Crown Court heard.

But Letby was not removed from the unit until after the deaths of two triplet boys and the collapse of another baby boy on three successive days in June 2016.

Letby was confined to clerical work and in September 2016 registered a grievance procedure.

It emerged during legal arguments in the trial - in the absence of the jury - that the grievance procedure was resolved in Letby's favour in December 2016.

Read more:
Who is Lucy Letby?
How the police caught Letby
Will Letby ever be released from prison?

Letby was due to return to the neonatal unit in March 2017, but the move did not take place as police were contacted by the hospital trust.

No babies died between when Letby was removed from the unit in July 2016 and when police were called in by the hospital in May 2017.

She was suspended on full pay from the moment she was arrested in July 2018.

It is understood she was sacked when she was charged in November 2020.

Letby was found guilty of seven counts of murder last week and is due to be sentenced today.