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Police failed to inform Lucy Letby about potential new charges against her-meaning she only found out about them through press reports, her barrister has claimed. Defence lawyer Mark McDonald accused Cheshire Constabulary of lacking "the courtesy" to alert Letby's legal team that a new file of evidence had been handed to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Instead he suggested information had been leaked in a "gossipy" manner via journalists.

He said: "One could be cynical and say that the police are afraid of what will happen when Lucy's conviction is overturned. We will cross every bridge when we get to it, but if Lucy is charged, I know we have a whole army of internationally renowned medical experts who will totally undermine the prosecution's unfounded allegations."

The file reportedly relates to further baby deaths and collapses at the Countess of Chester and Liverpool Women's Hospitals between 2012 and 2016.

Letby, 35, was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to kill seven others while working as a nurse at the Countess of Chester between 2015 and 2016.

However, a growing number of scientists, medical professionals and politicians have raised questions about the safety of her conviction.

A panel of experts has since reviewed the evidence and concluded there were no murders. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said there are "serious and credible" concerns about the case. Letby's conviction is currently being reviewed by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which is expected to report later this year.

Cheshire Constabulary confirmed it has submitted a full file of evidence to the CPS "for charging advice" as part of its wider investigation, Operation Hummingbird.

A CPS spokesman said it would "carefully consider the evidence" and make an independent decision based on its legal tests.

Letby has been interviewed several times in prison as part of the ongoing probe. Officers are now also investigating deaths at Liverpool Women's Hospital, in addition to those previously linked to the Countess of Chester.

Meanwhile, three former senior managers from the Countess of Chester Hospital have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter and corporate manslaughter.

The arrests, confirmed this week, relate to claims that the hospital leadership failed to act to stop Letby from harming babies. All three have been bailed without charge.

But the move has drawn criticism. Ernest Aduwa, criminal defence lawyer at Stokoe Partnership Solicitors, told the Telegraph the timing and handling of the arrests appeared more like "a desire to be seen to act" than a necessary legal step.

He said: "The police have stated that this does not affect Letby's convictions, but one must question whether these arrests serve any genuine legal purpose at this stage.

"It is essential that investigations into institutional failings are thorough and impartial. The focus should remain on establishing facts, not creating spectacle.

"The victims' families, the public and the accused all deserve a process that is fair, transparent and free from the taint of opportunism."