Public inquiries can better serve the victims of medical negligence | Observer letters

It is possible to provide both compassion and justice

As someone closely involved in parliamentary campaigning to secure the infected blood inquiry for the Labour MP Diana Johnson, I read Kieran Walshe's article with interest ("The infected blood inquiry reminds us we need a less painful way to deal with health failures", Comment).

I agree with his concerns and would like to offer my thoughts on some further reforms: whenever inquiries are set up, they fall under the sponsorship of implicated parties. In the case of infected blood, this was the Department of Health. It took campaigners 18-plus months to get responsibility transferred to the Cabinet Office. Future inquires need to be sponsored and funded independently.