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This is one of three Inquiries announced in June 2001 by the former Health Secretary, Alan Milburn.

John Reid said:

"Patients have the right to expect a high standard of care from clinicians. Richard Neale fell short of these standards and as a result caused the patients in his care unnecessary distress. My sympathies go to the patients involved in this case.

Since these events have come to light, we have taken a number of steps to help avoid similar incidents in the future. These include ensuring that patients have both sufficient and accurate information about their treatment to inform their decisions as well as strengthening the role of the Patient Advisory Liasion Service (PALS) to support patients who have concerns.

Issues around complaints are also being considered by the Shipman Inquiry, which is likely to produce recommendations in its fifth report due later this year. We will therefore consider these recommendations together with those of the Shipman and Ayling Inquiries and give a detailed response in due course.

We have made clear that patient safety is a priority and the UK has led the way in pushing forward in this area. Tomorrow, I will be talking to fellow EU health ministers about the lessons EU members can learn from one other and make clear that patient safety will be a key issue during the UK presidency of the EU next year".