IT was fascinating to read the exclusive front page story in the Bolton News about the danger of a Harold Shipman rash of killings recurring.

Dame Janet Smith, who headed the inquiry into the killings by the Hyde GP which is thought to include as many as 250 people, was speaking at one of the University of Bolton’s popular “An Evening With” events.

She said that “hardly any” of her recommendations had been put into place and that such murders could happen again. Her investigation lasted almost two years and was widely praised for its thoroughness.

Dame Janet felt one of the reasons for not implementing these recommendations was the perception that Shipman was a “one off” and so it was unnecessary to change systems.

Unfortunately, it is just that kind of complacent thinking that probably allowed him to act like God with the lives of so many vulnerable people.