Dr Heather Steen seeks to be removed from medical register

Nine-year-old Claire Roberts died in Belfast's Royal Hospital for Sick Children in 1996

Lawyers for a paediatrician at the centre of one of NI's longest running public inquiries have applied for her to be taken off the medical register.

Dr Heather Steen is accused of several failings following the death of Claire Roberts at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children in October 1996.

The nine-year-old's death was examined by the hyponatraemia inquiry, which lasted 14 years.

Dr Steen faces a fitness to practise hearing, which opened on Monday.

Within minutes of starting, her legal team made an application on health grounds for Dr Steen to be granted voluntary erasure, which in effect means she would be removed from the medical register and unable to practise.

If that is granted by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS), the hearing, which was expected to last up to five weeks, could be over in days.

Alan Roberts, the father of Claire Roberts, said it was in the public interest that the "negligent care Claire received is openly considered and the allegations against Dr Steen are heard in public so that we, as Claire's parents, are not denied the opportunity to hear Dr Steen's evidence".

"We could say we are devastated, shattered and shocked by this latest legal development, but it comes as no surprise whatsoever," he added.

Mr Roberts said the family had been expecting the development although they were surprised by its timing.

"We maintain it is in the public interest and essential for public confidence in both the medical profession and the regulator that an MPTS hearing into very serious allegations regarding the actions and conduct of Dr Steen continues.

"Otherwise, how can proper professional standards on the conduct of doctors be maintained?"

Dr Heather Steen, pictured in 2009, denied there had been a cover-up in Claire Roberts' death

The tribunal is inquiring into allegations that between October 1996 and May 2006, Dr Steen knowingly and dishonestly carried out several actions to conceal the true circumstances of the child's death.

The hyponatraemia inquiry examined the role of several doctors.

Among his findings, the inquiry's chairman Mr Justice O'Hara said there had been a "cover-up" to "avoid scrutiny."

The inquiry examined the hospital deaths of three children, the aftermath of the death of a fourth and issues arising from the death of a fifth.

In December 2012, Dr Steen told the public inquiry she denied claims of a cover-up into Claire Roberts' death.

Allegations

The website for Monday's tribunal says it is "alleged that Dr Steen inappropriately recommended a brain-only post-mortem for Patient A (Claire Roberts) when a full post-mortem was necessary.

"In addition, it is alleged that Dr Steen failed to refer Patient A's death to the coroner, inappropriately completed the medical certificate of cause of death and inaccurately completed the autopsy request form for Patient A.

"Furthermore, it is alleged that during a review of Patient A's notes, Dr Steen failed to consult with the necessary colleagues and medical teams and provided a statement and gave evidence to the coroner's inquest into Patient A's death which omitted key information."

Two days before Claire's death, she had become ill with symptoms including vomiting and drowsiness - it was believed she was suffering from a stomach bug.

After she was referred by her GP, hospital doctors prescribed intravenous fluids. However, Claire was given a fatal overdose of fluids and medication.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service is investigating a number of doctors involved in all the cases.

Previously the General Medical Council (GMC) said it was in the public interest to waive the five-year rule.

The rule normally means a complaint against a doctor has to be made within five years of any incident.