Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson has promised a full inquiry into issues raised by the case of disgraced psychiatrist William Kerr, it was claimed today.

But the final decision on whether it should be held in public will not be made until next month.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis gave details of Prof Donaldson's intentions after a meeting in London yesterday.

He said he was invited for the talks within hours of his demands on Monday for a public inquiry, and his suggestions that the Department of Health was dragging its heels and attempting a cover-up.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced in December that he was ordering an independent review of the way complaints about Dr Kerr were handled, but details of the review have still not been officially announced.

Mr Willis said Prof Donaldson had "crossly" denied any cover-up or unnecessary delay.

He had revealed that a "distinguished academic" had been appointed to chair the inquiry, assisted by two lay people.

The inquiry would look at the whole time Dr Kerr was a consultant in North Yorkshire, and all former patients who wished to give evidence would be able to do so.

Mr Willis claimed the resulting report would be on a par with the one which emerged from the Alder Hey inquiry, making recommendations for psychiatric services across the country and restoring public confidence which had been so shaken by the Kerr affair.

"I am enormously pleased," said the Liberal Democrat MP.

He believed the inquiry would start in June and take place in North Yorkshire, and Health Secretary Alan Milburn would announce next month whether it would be a public inquiry.

One former patient, Kathleen Haq, said she was delighted by the news, although she still wanted the inquiry to be held in public.

Dr Kerr, 75, of Alne, near Easingwold, was found at the end of a hearing-of-fact trial in December to have indecently assaulted a woman patient.

The retired consultant, who was unfit to plead or give evidence, was found not guilty of two rapes and four indecent assaults, with the jury unable to decide on two rapes and ten indecent assault charges.

Updated: 11:15 Thursday, April 26, 2001