A solicitor representing seven of the families affected by Lucy Letby’s crimes has said responsibility for the delay in contacting the police “lies squarely” with hospital executives.

On Tuesday, the Thirlwall Inquiry report revealed bosses at the Countess of Chester Hospital repeatedly failed in their duty of candour to parents, investigators and regulators.

Tamlin Bolton said each of the 1,100 pages of Lady Justice Thirlwall’s findings contained “another opportunity where action could have been taken”.

In a statement, former hospital executives named in the report said they were reviewing its findings and recommendations, but could not comment further while investigations remained under way.

Lucy Letby, 36, is serving 15 whole-life prison terms for the murder of seven babies and the attempted murder of seven others, including one baby whom she tried to murder twice.

The offences took place between 2015 and 2016, but concerns raised by consultants were not reported to police until May 2017.

“The overriding conclusion is that responsibility for the delay in contacting the police lies squarely with the executives,” said Bolton, from Irwin Mitchell.

Bolton said two senior consultants had raised “legitimate concerns”, but that they had gone unanswered.

“They were bullied, threatened and marginalised. So the families knew there was an issue at this trust. There was a cultural divide caused by the approach taken by the executives.”

The report concluded chief executive Tony Chambers was “dictatorial” in his approach to consultants and that presentations by executives to the hospital board were an “exercise in spin”.

Bolton said the report had made for “difficult reading” but added that she hoped it would “bring change”.

Chambers issued a joint statement with other senior leaders named in the report, saying: “Given that there are a number of investigations under way, and that the work of the Criminal Cases Review Commission has not yet completed, it would be inappropriate for us to offer any further comment at this time.

“Our thoughts remain with the families affected by the tragic events that took place at the Countess of Chester Hospital.”

While Bolton said she hoped the inquiry would prove to be a “pivot point”, publication of the report came amid continuing efforts by some campaigners and medical experts to challenge Letby’s convictions.

Bolton criticised Letby’s barrister, Mark McDonald, after he described the inquiry as having been based on a “false premise” of Letby’s guilt.

“The purpose of the inquiry was to bring in recommendations that would ensure children aren’t harmed, so to call it redundant so outwardly seems quite an unusual stance to take”, she said.

Bolton added that protests outside Liverpool Town Hall during the publication of the report had also been “very difficult” for her clients to see.

“The families place great reassurance in the fact that most of this evidence has been tested at several different levels by people who are experienced to test this evidence.

“[The protest] is an entirely inappropriate response to a public inquiry designed to look at patient safety.”

Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X, external. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.