The final report from the public inquiry into the crimes committed by former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby is now expected in early 2026 – a decade after they took place.
The Thirlwall Inquiry held its final hearing in March this year after seven months of evidence sessions.
The inquiry chair – Lady Justice Thirlwall – is now collating her findings into a final report that will include lessons and recommendations for the health system.
The 2026 date for publication of the final report is a delay to the timeline previously given.
At the closure of the sessions, Lady Thirlwall said it was her intention to publish the report in November 2025.
However, in an update yesterday, the inquiry team said the report would now be published in early 2026.
It said Lady Thirlwall was expected to send out warning letters to the people who would be criticised in the report from September 2025.
Under public inquiry rules, before publication of an inquiry report, the chair is required to send a letter to anyone who may be subject to significant or explicit criticism in the report and give them a chance to respond.
Lucy Letby
The update from the inquiry read: “The inquiry has written to core participants with an update on the progress of the final report.
“The chair, Lady Justice Thirlwall, is expected to send out warning letters from September 2025 and the final report will be completed by the end of November.
“The report will then undergo copyediting and typesetting, ahead of publication in early 2026.”
Asked by Nursing Times for the reason for the delay, an inquiry spokesperson said that Lady Thirlwall had previously said she would keep the publication date under review.
They said they had no further comment to provide.
Letby is currently serving multiple life prison sentences for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others.
She committed these crimes while working as a neonatal nurse at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2015 and 2016.
The Thirlwall Inquiry was set up to analyse how this was able to happen and to determine whether any changes are needed to prevent further atrocities in the future.
