Lucy Letby and the importance of understanding statistics in the NHS

Data could help NHS trusts 'act more quickly in similar cases' but there are 'pitfalls to avoid'

Lucy Letby has a headshot taken while in police custody in November 2020
Staff rotas were used by the prosecution to show that Lucy Letby was the 'common denominator' in the series of baby deaths
(Image credit: Cheshire Constabulary via Getty Images)

A better understanding of statistics could help the NHS act more quickly to prevent a repeat of the Lucy Letby case, experts from the Royal Statistical Society have argued.

The neonatal nurse was sentenced to whole life imprisonment after being found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six more at the Countess of Chester hospital between 2015 and 2016.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More