An independent inquiry has found that Dr. Mark Deakin, a registrar at the Countess of Chester Hospital, compromised his professional responsibilities by prioritizing support for nurse Lucy Letby over his duty to patients. Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others between June 2015 and June 2016 at the same hospital.
Dr. Deakin, 53, who was dismissed earlier this year and died shortly afterward, was revealed by the inquiry to have had an unusually close relationship with Letby, described by some as a "boyfriend." Evidence showed that he forwarded confidential information to Letby and frequently communicated with her, sending a total of 1,355 messages.
In a 2016 staff meeting discussing babies who had died or become seriously ill under Letby’s care—an event from which she was excluded—Dr. Deakin messaged Letby details of the discussion, instructing her to keep the information confidential. The inquiry heard the message read in part: “You need to keep this to yourself,” followed by a detailed account of the meeting reviewing cases and medical documentation. The inquiry chairman, Lady Justice Thirlwall, characterized his actions as a serious blurring of professional boundaries, stating that Dr. Deakin “put her first” over his obligations to patients.
Dr. Deakin acknowledged that he shared excessive clinical information with Letby and admitted misjudging the significance of abnormal findings in one infant, known as Baby L, whom he was responsible for during a night shift in June 2016. Lady Justice Thirlwall rejected the defense assertion that this was a collective failure, instead holding Dr. Deakin personally accountable for not recognizing the implications of the baby’s elevated insulin levels—critical medical evidence in Letby’s case.
Following the meeting about the babies’ deaths, Dr. Deakin continued to assist Letby in concealing concerns raised by colleagues. When the hospital’s lead neonatal consultant, Dr. Stephen Brearey, emailed Dr. Deakin suggesting he draft an inquest statement that included discussions about Letby, Dr. Deakin forwarded that email directly to her with a note emphasizing the need for secrecy. He later expressed regret for this decision, describing it as an error in judgment.
The inquiry further revealed that Dr. Deakin supported Letby beyond 2016, aiding her in obtaining observational placements at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool without disclosing to that institution that she was no longer allowed to work in the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
During his testimony, Dr. Deakin stated he felt misled and possibly manipulated by Letby, expressing remorse for his involvement and the outcomes of that period. The courtroom atmosphere was tense when Letby appeared emotionally distressed upon his appearance as a witness, an incident that prosecutors suggested reflected on the nature of their relationship.
Notably, handwritten notes found at Letby’s residence following her arrest contained repeated references to Dr. Deakin and sentiments such as “love was all we needed,” underscoring the complex and problematic personal dynamics at play during the investigation and trial.