The NMC said the action was not taken sooner as the agency was “waiting for the verdict of the inquiry”. “Our regulatory processes are guided by strict legislation which sets out a process we must follow before imposing a sanction, for example removing someone from the register,” they published.
In a memo, Andrea Sutcliffe, director of the NMC, wrote that the body had acted “as soon as the verdict in the criminal investigation was reached”.
The thoughts and sympathies of everyone at the NMC are with the parents, families and children who have been so badly affected by Lucy Ledby’s horrific and heartbreaking crimes. Once a verdict was reached at the hearing, we moved forward with our own fitness to exercise the process as quickly as possible and today can confirm that an independent panel ordered Ms Ledby to be removed from the register. This will take effect in January when Ms Letby is no longer a registered nurse. Meanwhile, he remains on temporary registration suspension.
Andrea Sutcliffe, Director of Nursing Council England
Remember the case
Ledbi was sentenced to 14 life terms in August this year. Between June 2015 and June 2016, he killed seven children and attempted to kill six children, one of whom was the target of two attempts.
He was arrested and charged in November 2020. Lucy has already been investigated for crimes twice in 2018 and 2019, and no action was taken during that time.