They said babies stopped dying when Letby left, but I believe my boy died of sewage-linked bug – it came from the taps

THE claim babies stopped dying after Lucy Letby was moved from her neonatal unit has been slammed by a tragic mum – whose newborn collapsed just months later. Annalise McClements says baby Archie suddenly deteriorated at the Countess of Chester Hospital six months after Letby had been taken off the unit. Annalise McClements told how her son deteriorated at the Countess of Chester Hospital six months after Letby was taken off the unit Credit: The Sun Annalise now blames the poor state of the unit is a likely cause of his death Credit: CPS Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders after being convicted of murdering seven babies Credit: Enterprise And she says Letby’s key accuser – consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram – told her at the time that babies could deteriorate rapidly because they were so weak. Annalise told The Sun documentary Lucy Letby: Scapegoat? – broadcast tomorrow night at 10pm on 5: “Even if he didn’t die at Chester because they very quickly moved him out, he collapsed there. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! “But that’s not been included. So how many others aren’t being included?“How many other babies started to decline or collapse and were shipped off to another hospital?” A key component of the original accusers’ claims against Letby centred on their belief babies did not suddenly collapse or die without warning. It comes as… A whistleblower says Lucy Letby may have been ‘scapegoat’ to cover up failures at the unit Evidence that could have helped Letby’s defence ‘wasn’t heard in court‘ An unseen bombshell email sent by a doctor who was the only Letby eyewitness CONTRADICTS his evidence to jury A top surgeon’s damning verdict undermines the prosecution star witness But Annalise claims that’s not what she was told. The mum-of-two, of Crewe, Cheshire, said: “I asked Dr Jayaram why he declined so fast, and he just said, well babies can decline fast. Most read in The Sun “It’s quite normal for a baby to rapidly decline because they are so weak.” Annalise has blasted the care Archie was given and claimed the poor state of the unit is a likely cause of his death. Archie’s cause of death was lethal bug enterovirus, which can be transmitted by fecal matter. The hospital told Annalise he likely caught it from HER during labour. It was only later the mum learned the unit had suffered sewage and plumbing problems – making it entirely possible he caught the infection on the unit. She now blames the poor state of the unit is a likely cause of his death. His mum blasted: “They said it was me – but they knew full well Archie could have caught it from the unit. “I can’t forgive them for making me feel like that – for letting me take the blame.” She added: “I think he’s got the virus from the dirty sewage in the unit. How many deaths are because of that? How many deaths are the uncleanliness? “It’s an explanation that makes far more sense than the alternative given.”She added: “You could tell it was an old building. It felt run down. The toilets, the showers, all the facilities were just worn. “It didn’t feel the cleanliness that you’d expect from a hospital. The unit was quite well known to have sewage coming up from the taps.” Archie was born at the Countess and transferred to its neonatal unit shortly afterwards. He later died in Manchester after being transferred there, in December 2016 [checking]. His mum said she became concerned almost immediately by his condition — and by what she described as a lack of staff. She said: “The first thing that was alarming to me when I did go to see Archie was the lack of staff. “I couldn’t ever remember there ever being more than one person available at the time. I think I saw the consultant or a doctor once that week, and that was by chance.” Annalise said Archie was extremely sleepy, did not wake to feed and had not cried. She said: “I don’t think he was a well baby. Annalise said her son Archie was extremely sleepy, did not wake to feed and had not cried Credit: Dan Charity Archie’s blood then stopped clotting properly and his stomach became distended Credit: Dan Charity Letby’s key accuser – consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram – told the mum at the time that babies could deteriorate rapidly, she said Credit: Dan Charity Annalise was woken on the post-natal ward and told he was being blue-lighted to St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester “I expressed that and other family members expressed that and we were completely dismissed. Until he collapsed.” Archie’s blood then stopped clotting properly and his stomach became distended. Annalise was woken on the post-natal ward and told he was being blue-lighted to St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. She recalled a senior nurse telling her: “I’m sorry, we can’t save him. He’s going to pass.” Annalise said: “I just remember screaming.” A spokesperson at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We understand the significant public interest in these matters and recognise the importance of providing reassurance to our patients and the local communities we serve. “However, it is equally as vital that we continue to recognise and cooperate with the ongoing legal processes and we are unable to comment on issues that remain subject to an ongoing investigation by Cheshire Police. “When it is appropriate to do so, we will provide further information about the actions we have taken to strengthen patient safety and governance and about any further actions we take or have taken to address the Thirlwall Report’s findings and recommendations.” WATCH & STREAM on 5 Lucy Letby: Scapegoat? Monday, September 21 at 10pm Comment now