From Hereford to Manchester

Nineteen Nurses: Bridging the Gap Between Healthcare and Justice

In June 2025, Nineteen Nurses held its first-ever public meeting in Hereford. What began as a small group of nurses, health professionals and the public, coming together to discuss concerns about medical evidence in the justice system, quickly gained momentum — and it wasn’t long before we were welcoming over 600 healthcare professionals from across the UK to join the conversation, via our website.

The Hereford event was a real turning point for us. What started with nineteen nurses has now blossomed into a thriving community of doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, and others who are passionate about improving the use of medical evidence in legal proceedings.

The meeting itself was a day of open, honest discussion, where we realised that many healthcare professionals share our core belief: when medical evidence is presented in court, it must meet the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and accountability.

Fast forward to November 2025, and we held our second symposium in Manchester — co-hosted with the Manchester Innocence Project. It was another incredible moment in our journey, and here’s a bit about what went down.

Why We Came Together

Our mission has always been simple: to ensure that justice and science are aligned.

The case of Lucy Letby raised some tough questions. It sparked discussions about how expert witness testimony is handled in court, how complex medical findings are interpreted, and the significant impact that media narratives can have on public perceptions before a verdict is even reached.

As healthcare professionals, we believe it's our responsibility to ask these questions calmly, respectfully, and, most importantly, based on evidence, not emotion or opinion. We're not here to divide or create controversy — we're here to ensure that everyone, no matter their role or reputation, gets a fair trial based on solid science and verifiable facts.

Highlights from the Manchester Meeting

On 15th November 2025, we brought together healthcare workers, medical experts, legal professionals, and members of the public for a full-day symposium. The event sparked some powerful conversations and highlighted key themes:

1. Strengthening Standards for Expert Witnesses

One of the key topics of discussion was the need to raise the bar for medical expert witnesses. There’s a growing consensus that expert testimony in court should be subject to the same scientific scrutiny that we expect in clinical practice. This means better accreditation, peer review, and professional accountability — ensuring that medical evidence is not only accurate but reliable.

2. Independent Review and Transparency

We also reiterated our call for an independent, multidisciplinary review of the medical evidence in the Lucy Letby case. This process must be transparent, impartial, and open to qualified professionals, to maintain public trust in the legal system. We urged the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) to fast-track the case to the appeal court.

3. Media Responsibility

Several speakers and attendees discussed the role of the media in high-profile cases. It's clear that journalists and media commentators have a huge responsibility when reporting on sensitive cases. Premature or inaccurate coverage can shape public opinion in ways that can ultimately harm the individuals involved. As a community, we need to advocate for more responsible reporting — understanding that the consequences of early narratives can last long after the verdict is delivered.

4. Protecting Healthcare Professionals

Many healthcare professionals shared their experiences of working under pressure in hospital settings where outcomes are unpredictable. The general consensus was clear: healthcare systems need to learn from incidents, rather than scapegoating individuals. We heard powerful testimonies from nurses and doctors who want to see a culture of learning and improvement, rather than one of blame.

5. Voices from Families Affected by Substandard Care

One of the most moving moments of the day came from families who have been directly impacted by substandard care. They shared their personal journeys of how inadequate medical treatment and the involvement of experts in their care had affected their lives and the lives of their loved ones. These testimonies underscored the importance of ensuring that expert medical evidence is not only scientifically rigorous but also delivered with empathy and respect for the individuals at the heart of the cases.

6. Whistleblower Retaliation

We also heard from whistleblowers who bravely spoke about the life-changing impact of blowing the whistle on substandard care. Many shared their experiences of retaliation — from professional isolation to personal attacks — and how this has affected their careers and wellbeing. These stories highlighted the need for stronger protections for whistleblowers and a culture where speaking out against poor practice is not just welcomed but supported.

7. Real Cases and the Destruction of Lives by Miscarriages of Justice

A powerful segment of the event was dedicated to real cases presented by legal experts, who illustrated how miscarriages of justice have tragically destroyed lives. Legal professionals shared harrowing stories of innocent people whose lives were upended by flawed medical evidence and expert witness testimony. These cases highlighted the devastating consequences when justice fails — not just for the individuals wrongly accused but also for their families and communities. It was a stark reminder of the importance of getting it right when expert testimony is involved in legal proceedings.

8. The Role of the Expert Witness and Needed Reforms

The role of the expert witness was a central focus. Legal experts discussed how vital it is to have well-trained, accountable, and impartial professionals providing testimony in court. However, the current system is far from perfect. Reforms are urgently needed to ensure that expert witnesses are adequately vetted, that their qualifications are transparent, and that their testimony is scrutinised more rigorously. As healthcare professionals, we must advocate for these changes to ensure that the justice system relies on sound, objective medical evidence, rather than the whims of unqualified or biased experts.

9. The Flawed Use of Statistical Evidence and the Need for Reform

Another crucial issue raised during the symposium was the flawed use of statistical evidence in legal cases. Often, medical statistics are misinterpreted or presented in misleading ways, leading to flawed conclusions in court. This is especially problematic when expert witnesses use statistics that lack context or fail to account for confounding variables. We heard from experts who emphasised the need for significant reform in how statistical evidence is presented and evaluated in the courtroom. The importance of statistical literacy among legal professionals was also highlighted, with a call for more rigorous training on how to assess and challenge statistical data. This is vital to ensure that decisions in court are based on reliable, properly understood data rather than faulty assumptions.

Talks – Coming Soon!

For anyone who couldn’t make it to the event, we’ve got you covered. The videos of the talks and discussions from the Manchester symposium will be available on our website and YouTube channel very soon. It’s a great opportunity to hear directly from the experts, catch up on key points, and dive deeper into the critical issues we explored.

Our Growing Network

Since the Hereford event, our network has only continued to grow. We now count over 600 healthcare professionals among our members, including nurses, doctors, midwives, allied health professionals, and more. This is more than just a numbers game — it’s proof that the conversation we’re having is long overdue. Healthcare professionals across the UK are eager for an open, informed dialogue about the use of clinical expertise in the courtroom.

What’s Next? London, June 2026

We’re already planning our next big event — a national meeting in London in June 2026. Building on the momentum of the meetings in Hereford and Manchester, this event will bring together healthcare professionals, legal experts, scientists, and the public to discuss what needs to change in the justice system — and how we can make those changes happen.

Looking Ahead

The meetings in Hereford and Manchester have shown us something important: healthcare professionals are ready to speak out and engage in thoughtful conversations about how justice and medicine intersect. This is just the beginning for Nineteen Nurses, and we’re committed to continuing this journey — publishing updates, sharing new analyses, and working with others who are equally passionate about truth, fairness, and the responsible use of medical evidence.

We want to thank everyone who has attended our events and joined us in this mission so far.

We look forward to welcoming even more of you to London in June 2026.