A woman, understood to be the children’s nurse Lucy Letby, has been rearrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the deaths of eight babies and the attempted murder of nine babies at a hospital in Chester. Letby was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019 over the incidents at a neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital. Her initial arrest in July 2018 was part of a long inquiry into a number of baby deaths at the hospital over an 18-month period. She was questioned by police on suspicion of murdering eight babies and attempting to murder six others, but was bailed. A year later, in June 2019, she was arrested again on the same counts, as well as for the attempted murder of three more babies. Cheshire police confirmed the parents of the babies were being kept updated on the latest development and supported by specially trained officers. DCI Paul Hughes said: “It has been more than three years since we first launched an investigation into a number of baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital. “In that time a dedicated team of detectives have been working extremely hard on this highly complex and very sensitive case doing everything they can as quickly as they can to identify what has led to these baby deaths and collapses. “In July 2018, a healthcare professional was arrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the deaths of eight babies and the attempted murder of six babies at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester hospital. She was subsequently bailed pending further enquiries. “In June 2019, the healthcare professional was rearrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the deaths of eight babies and the attempted murder of six babies. She was also arrested in connection with the attempted murder of three additional babies. “Today, as part of our ongoing enquiries, the healthcare professional has been rearrested on suspicion of murder in relation to the deaths of eight babies and the attempted murder of nine babies. “The woman is currently in custody helping officers with their inquiries.”