One of the most shocking scandals in the British health system has reignited the debate over the safety of babies in hospitals. Following the investigation into the events at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others, the British government has announced the installation of surveillance cameras near the beds of babies in the wards.

According to the charges for which Letby was convicted, she caused the babies to collapse by interfering with the way they received oxygen.

In some cases, she injected air into blood vessels, causing embolism, while in other cases she used insulin to dangerously lower blood sugar levels in babies who did not need insulin.

She was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. Letby is serving 15 life sentences without the possibility of parole and has been denied leave to appeal her convictions on two occasions.

The inquiry has also revealed serious failings in hospital and NHS management. The report criticises the fact that concerns about baby safety were not taken seriously and that failing managers were often transferred to other posts rather than held accountable.

The trust's former chief executive, Susan Gilby, described the organisation as "completely dysfunctional" and said that when she took office in 2018 she feared some of the deaths could have been prevented. She said patient safety should be the first question in any decision-making, but at the time this question was not being asked.

The British Medical Association has also called for far-reaching reforms in the NHS, highlighting the need for stronger protection for doctors and staff who report safety problems.