The truth about exactly why former night matron Anne Grigg-Booth killed so many patients will never be known.

The death of the senior nurse, who was due to stand trial, has robbed the families of justice and the chance to discover the reason for her evil acts.

Grigg-Booth emphatically denied the offences but the police and Crown Prosecution Service believe she was responsible and say it will probably never be known how many she killed.

For the sakes of all involved it is vital that a full independent inquiry is held. A decision has been taken to do that by the West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority, with a promise that the full report, findings and recommendations will be made public. That is a great start

The terms of reference for that inquiry will be announced in due course but there are some obvious questions which will need to be answered, swiftly.

For example, as the family of one of the victims asks -- where does a nurse, no matter how senior she may be, get powerful drugs such as those Grigg-Booth administered? Surely there must be checks and balances in place to monitor doses?

Solicitors for some of the families affected are demanding the Government orders a public inquiry and a coroner is considering holding inquests.

An all-embracing inquiry must be held. But what must not happen is that it takes months and months before an outcome is known.

As a full police investigation has been carried out, so much of the spade work has already been done.

It should also be noted that no one will really benefit if the Grigg-Booth affair is allowed to become a "business" such as is the case with Harold Shipman. Have those who lives were devastated by Shipman really benefited from the rounds of official inquiries?

Answers to the basic questions in the Grigg-Booth case are already known to management. For everyone's sakes it is vital it issues a statement immediately.

Such an act would help lift the shadow which has been cast a over what is undoubtedly a fine hospital, with extremely dedicated and caring staff.