An independent inquiry into the Alder Hey baby organs scandal in Liverpool, England, was announced yesterday by the Health Secretary, Mr Alan Milburn.
He said the move was essential to restore public confidence in the Liverpool children's hospital following allegations that organs were removed from the bodies of up to 850 children. Mr Milburn said the inquiry would report to him by the end of March 2000 and its findings would be made public.
Mr Milburn said the events at the hospital were "obviously distressing" for the families concerned, and added that relatives would be able to make their views known directly or in writing to the inquiry.
The three-person inquiry will comprise a patient's representative, a leading pathologist and a person with an appropriate legal qualification.
It will be independent of the hospital's own internal inquiry which is due to report early in the new year and will make recommendations to Mr Milburn about what further actions are necessary to reform organ retention practices at the hospital and what support is needed for the affected families.
Mr Milburn added in the statement: "No one hearing the details of the events at Alder Hey Children's Hospital can be anything but concerned at what has happened."
Earlier, the Liverpool coroner, Mr Andre Rebello, condemned hospital directors for "brutalising" the Valentine family, whose 4 1/2 -month-old daughter Kayleigh died at the hospital nine years ago. He said the Valentine family had been "brutalised by a system". He said the removal of organs was "unlawful" if parents had not given their consent and called for "these reprehensible acts" to be investigated.