Hospital Security Breach: Migrant Posed as Female Nurse in A&E at Lucy Letby's Former Hospital

CHESTER, UK — A 33-year-old migrant fraudulently worked as a healthcare assistant in the Accident & Emergency department of the Countess of Chester Hospital — the same NHS trust where convicted killer nurse Lucy Letby was employed — by impersonating a female agency nurse.

Lucius Njoku, who is in the UK as a dependent on his wife’s work visa, used the identity of Nigerian-born agency nurse Joyce George to carry out shifts in the busy A&E unit. He wore an NHS lanyard bearing George’s photograph while reportedly performing clinical duties and assisting seriously ill patients.

The Deception

The court heard that Joyce George, after securing the role legitimately, allowed Njoku to undertake her shifts under her name. Text messages between the two discussed shift patterns at the hospital. It remains unclear how Njoku obtained an NHS uniform to complete the deception.

Despite wearing an ID badge with a clear female photo, colleagues and hospital management did not detect the impersonation. Prosecutors noted that while no harm or complaints arose from his work, the breach of access to vulnerable patients was a serious security failure.

Hospital Context

The Countess of Chester Hospital is already under intense scrutiny following the Lucy Letby case, in which the neonatal nurse was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder six others. Three former senior managers at the trust are currently under investigation for gross negligence manslaughter in connection with Letby’s crimes.

Legal Outcome

Njoku pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation at Chester Magistrates’ Court. He was given a 16-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 80 hours of unpaid work, plus costs.

During sentencing, District Judge Jack McGarva stated: “You deceived your way into a job which requires safeguarding checks. That undermines the system. Although you were qualified and you did the work without complaint, that is not the point.”

Joyce George, who was also charged, is believed to have fled to Nigeria before trial. An arrest warrant remains active.

Aftermath and Safeguarding Concerns

Njoku’s solicitor mentioned his client is a qualified nurse but had not completed the necessary safeguarding checks at the time. Since the fraud, Njoku has obtained proper authorization but now works at a Vauxhall plant through an agency instead of in healthcare.

The case has raised further questions about identity verification and shift monitoring in NHS hospitals, particularly amid ongoing reviews of clinical governance and staff oversight in the wake of the Letby inquiry.