Founded 1980
Chair:        
Secretary: 
Treasurer: 

Graham Smith
Jan Thompson
Graham Mumby-Croft


John Ramwell
MY TAKE ON LUCY LETBY

From an old colleague, a retired Doctor,…

“This Lucy Letby case is very odd. She seems so ordinary with no reason to do these things. It was not as though she was aiming to get 'credit' for saving these babies. I suspect it looks less surprising to you with your experience of offenders. I do feel the managers were plain stupid to ignore the concerns of all the paediatric consultants.” 

My reply… 

“Good Morning, 

In reply to your observation that Lucy Letby is odd. 

I did a 3 yr Criminology course a long time ago. Wasn’t able to qualify as was promoted and had to move. Nonetheless I‘ve a view on what makes us all tick. (I was the Governor of the Special Unit based at Parkhurst.) I have a BBC videotape of our work there. The concept was based on a Dutch idea that the way to deal with problematic prisoners who took up much of the staff time to the detriment of the average prisoner - if there is any such creature - were to be based in a single unit where staff to inmate resources could be increased. ‘Putting the bad eggs in one basket.’ This was the brain child of a senior civil servant at the Home Office, a guy called Tony Butler. He took a keen interest and used to pay fairly frequent visits. He was vital to our survival as he was responsible for our funding as well as the ultimate success of this project. I was dispatched to the embryonic special unit in Amsterdam where I spent two weeks watching and learning. 

We, my Governor & I, used to be invited to interview potential candidates from prisons and long term psychiatric hospitals from the length and breadth of the U.K. It was exciting times. Jen & I moved from Wakefield Nick down to the Isle of Wight where we spent 6 years. We enjoyed the Island. I had agreed to take on the job on an understanding that after 4 years I would be posted to the NW of England where Jen & I had decided we wished to retire. In the event I did an extra two years at Parkhurst- a long story - before jumping up & down and being rewarded by my final posting up here, to the NW; Hindley Prison from where I retired 6 years later at the age of 55 and 1/2. The extra six months I completed as a favour as they wanted to appoint a particular Governor who was not going to be immediately available. 

Goodness knows why I’ve told you all this. I set out to describe my credentials for having a view on the likes of Lucy Letby - who was not the first nurse to kill several of her patients- and got carried away. Not far away enough, I hear you say! The point is, I used to work with several pre-eminent psychiatrists who were appointed to provide their services and one of my functions was to discuss each prisoner/patient. In so doing I learnt quite a lot about the subject of mental health. 

So returning to the matter in hand. The mental state of Lucy. It’s my ‘umble opinion that no one has the answer to this. Our knowledge of other aspects of medicine (I hear that they’ve recently transplanted a womb to allow a woman to bear her own child, for example) is amazing. Our knowledge of things scientific, mechanical, etc., means we’re bordering on the possibility of being taken over by robots with A.I. 

And yet, when it comes to the brain, in particular the mind. Well, we’ve a long way to go. 

If you’re still awake you deserve a medal. 

Cheers, 

John.” 

JOHN RAMWELL

Issue 90 Spring 2024