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The coroner

17/ 7/2002

CORONER John Pollard recalled the moment the whistle was blown on Harold Shipman.

Dr Linda Reynolds first alerted authorities to Shipman's high patient death rate in March 1998, in a telephone conversation to the coroner.

"She was most concerned that one of her professional colleagues may well have been killing his patients even though she might not have vocalised it in those words," Mr Pollard said.

"But she was also extremely concerned about this business of confidentiality and she stressed on a number of occasions that she wanted it to be dealt with on a discreet manner."

Following this conversation Mr Pollard contacted the police and Det Insp David Smith was assigned to the case in Hyde.

A four-week investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence against the Market Street GP.

"It ended with DI Smith telling me that Dr Shipman tries to get all his patients out of hospital - that probably equates to keeping them out of hospital, not just getting them out of hospital," Mr Pollard added.

"He works very much like the old GP who will call in at home without appointment and clearly the major emphasis, because I wrote it in capital letters on my notes, 'ALL IS OKAY' and that is the impression which was given to me."

Mr Pollard's approach at this stage was questioned by inquiry chairman Dame Janet Smith.

She queried Mr Pollard's approach 'as a human being', saying: "You don't seem to have had any high level of curiosity about this most extraordinary report.

"I know what you say about your role but you are also a human being. I would have thought you would have been puzzled and curious."

On another occasion during that day's (May 13, 2002) hearing the inquiry chairman added: "I find it strange you didn't ask for more of an explanation about the numbers. If they had been such a source of concern as they were at the outset."