I'm back at Manchester Crown Court this morning for the trial of nurse Lucy Letby. Jurors will continue to hear evidence in relation to Child G. Ms Letby is accused of attempting to murder the infant on three occasions in September 2015. She denies all charges.
Reminder of yesterday's evidence here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-...
Dr David Harkness, who was a registrar at the Countess of Chester Hospital in 2015, is due to give evidence this morning. Will focus on the events of 21 September 2015. On that morning Child G had a second incident of projectile vomiting and that afternoon needed resuscitation
Dr Harkness tells the court he was on a day shift on 21 September. He says he cannot remember, aside from using his notes, the events of that day
Court is being shown notes from that day, which show there were seven attempts to cannulate Child G. Dr Harkness' colleague Dr John Gibbs told the court yesterday that in babies, such as Child G, that require a lot of intensive care there can be issues with cannulation
Dr Harkness is recalling the cannulation of Child G at around 15:30 BST that day...he says he was assisting Dr Gibbs. He said he was there to pass equipment and keep baby still - jobs normally carried out by a nurse.
Asked why a nurse did not assist, he said 'I expect nurses were very busy, but can't be specific why'
Dr Harkness is now being asked if he remembers whether Child G was hooked up to a monitor. He says she was. He is asked if the sensor from the monitor was moved while attempting cannulation. He cannot remember
He is asked if a sensor would ever be moved, he said it 'would occasionally be moved from one to limb to other'. He agrees it is important to keep a monitor on and attached. He says it is 'not safe' to turn such a monitor off
Asked if he turned Child G's monitor off, he says 'I'm even sure I know how to turn off that particular monitor…at no point would I have turned it off'
After the cannulation, Dr Harkness is asked whether he remembers having any conversations with anyone. He says he has a 'vague' recollection of speaking to a member of nursing staff
Ben Myers KC, defending, put it to Dr Harkness that he and Dr Gibbs left Child G behind a screen, detached from the monitor, and had failed to inform nursing staff. Dr Harkness repeatedly says he 'can't remember'. On the monitor being switched off, he flatly says 'no'
On the accusation he did not inform nursing staff and left Child G unattended, he said 'I don’t think so, it's highly unlikely'
Yesterday a nurse, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court that Dr Gibbs and Dr Harkness apologised to her for not switching the monitor back on after fitting the cannula. Dr Harkness says he 'can't remember' whether such a conversation took place
Court now taking a short break for legal discussion
Court back in session, judge has said it is not possible to hear anymore evidence today meaning we will now adjourn for Christmas - trial will resume on 9 January
Report of today’s evidence 👇🏻 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-...