Learning from tragedy, keeping patients safe: Overview of the Government’s action programme in response to the recommendations of the Shipman Inquiry (February 2007)

Summary

Harold Shipman, a respected GP from Hyde in Greater Manchester, over a period of 20 or more years, was responsible for the murder of around 250 of his patients. In the years since Shipman was convicted, two questions are continuously debated. Firstly, what made an apparently caring, competent doctor turn to murder on such a horrific scale? And secondly, why did nobody in authority realise what was going on?

The Shipman Inquiry was set up in January 2001, following Shipman’s conviction the previous year for the murder of 15 of his patients. The Inquiry was tasked with investigating the extent of Shipman’s unlawful activities, enquiring into the activities of the statutory authorities and other organisations involved, and making recommendations on the steps needed to protect patients for the future. The Inquiry published a total of six reports. 

This is the Government's response to the Shipman inquiry and action programme.