THE inquiry into the Michael Haslam and William Kerr scandal finally got fully under way today - almost three years after it was ordered.

Former patients of the two retired York psychiatrists, along with doctors and health service managers, will give evidence at hearings to be held at York's Hilton Hotel over the next two months.

Haslam himself may leave his prison cell to give evidence at some stage, although he was not expected to turn up today. The independent investigation was ordered in July 2001 by then Health Secretary Alan Milburn, after Kerr had been found by a jury to have indecently assaulted a vulnerable psychiatric patient.

Its aim was to look into the way complaints against Kerr, and also Haslam, had been handled over the years.

In 2002, the inquiry was delayed following Haslam's arrest over sexual assault allegations. He was eventually convicted last December of four indecent assaults and a rape, and although the rape conviction was recently quashed on appeal, he remains in jail.

Kathy Haq, a spokeswoman for a number of former Kerr and Haslam patients, said today: "I am pleased that today has finally arrived."

She said that during the delays, more women had found the courage to give their evidence to the inquiry team.

She hoped that those in authority who had been told about Kerr and Haslam's activities but done nothing would be asked to explain their conduct.

"We hope that lessons will be learned and procedures put in place to prevent this ever happening again."

Inquiry chairman Nigel Pleming QC said it was "probably unlikely" Haslam would attend the inquiry to hear evidence given by others, and it was not yet decided whether he would be called to give evidence and answer questions himself.

He said: "We are not a retrial of the criminal process. We will give him an opportunity to deal with concerns that were expressed to him about himself, and also about Dr Kerr."

Mr Pleming said he hoped to complete the inquiry before Christmas, and a draft report would then be completed and submitted to the Secretary of State, who would determine when the report should be published.

Updated: 10:49 Tuesday, June 08, 2004