Image source, Cheshire Police Image caption,

Lucy Letby was jailed for life for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of a further six

By Daniel O'Donoghue

BBC News

The public inquiry into Lucy Letby's crimes will focus on "three broad areas" and ask 30 key questions.

The probe, chaired by Lady Justice Thirlwall, will examine how the nurse was able to murder seven babies and try to kill six others.

It will also look at how the NHS handled the case and its response to doctors who raised concerns.

It will be a statutory inquiry so will have powers to compel witnesses to give evidence.

Letby, 33, was given multiple whole life sentences for murdering seven babies and attempting to kill six more while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit between 2015 and 2016, meaning she will spend the rest of her life in prison.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who set up the inquiry, called her crimes "some of the very worst the UK has witnessed".

The government has published the inquiry's terms of reference.

It stated that there would be three broad areas of focus, first the experiences of all of the parents of the babies named in the indictment.