The controversial CNEP ventilator

The inquiry began in January 1999 after a number of serious allegations about child protection and research were made against Professor Southall.

He and a colleague, Dr Martin Samuels, were suspended on full pay while an inquiry costing three quarters of a million pound was carried out.

Dr Samuels was cleared of professional misconduct and reinstated in April this year.

Concerns

Parents were concerned the use of the CNEP ventilators for premature babies could lead to death or brain damage. The practice which has now abandoned in the UK.

Parents claimed they did not give consent to their children taking part and that their signatures were forged.

Following Professor Southall's reinstatement, one couple told the BBC the inquiry had been a whitewash: "Would you expect a trust to investigate themselves and find themselves guilty? Not really."

Professor Southall also attracted controversy over his work on the use of secret video cameras to monitor parents suspected of child abuse.

But he is credited with important research into cot death, which over-turned findings that the problem was due to the gaps in babies' breathing while they sleep.

He always acted in a way that promoted the best interests of children under his care

Dr Pat Chipping, North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust

Dr Pat Chipping, medical director for North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trust, said independent experts had found no evidence of inappropriate diagnosis.

"They found he always acted in a way that promoted the best interests of children under his care and that he took decisions in collaboration with colleagues."

Dr Chipping added: "In the controversial area of covert video surveillance, there is no evidence of its inappropriate use.

"It was always undertaken following full investigation and when all other diagnostic approaches had been used."

Dr Chipping said parental concern that CNEP may have lead to death or brain damage cannot currently be "substantiated".

A follow up audit on the safety of the procedure is taking place.

She said no evidence could be found that consent forms had been forged, and added it was clear Professor Southall was "sensitive" of the need to obtain consent in research on babies and children.

And she said lessons had been learned in key areas including the recording of information relating to child protection issues and the management of new techniques such as video surveillance.

Child abuse study

The eight-year study into child abuse attacks, carried out by Professor Southall from 1986, found that youngsters aged between two months and 44 months were being deliberately injured in cruel and sadistic attacks by their parents or step parents while in hospital.

Twenty-three parents or step-parents of the 39 children identified as at risk by doctors, social workers and psychiatrists, were found to be suffering from the attention-seeking disorder Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy.

The condition leads parents to harm their children in a bid to create situations where they are the centre of attention.

Covert filming led to a total of 33 parents or step-parents being prosecuted.

Dr Harvey Markevitch, a spokesman for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health which provided two of the advisors to the inquiry, said: "The college is very pleased that all of these allegations have been found to be unfounded.

"Professor Southall is a very important clinician and researcher."

He condemned the NHS complaints system as inappropriate for all sides involved.

He called for an inter-agency panel made up of social services, health and education experts to look at cases involving alleged child abuse.