Shipman inquiry to be held in public

The inquiry into the crimes of Harold Shipman, the general practitioner suspected of murdering up to 200 patients, will be held in public with full powers for the inquiry chairman to compel witnesses to attend and to call for documents, the health minister, Alan Milburn, announced last week.

Shipman, aged 54, who practised in Hyde, Greater Manchester, was convicted at Preston crown court in January of murdering 15 women patients with …