THE report of the hospital investigation into events surrounding the death of a new-born baby at Burnley General has been delayed and health chiefs say they do not know when the findings will be published.

Earlier this month, Burnley Health Trust managers said the outcome of the internal inquiry into the death of Charlie Louise Taylor of Colne would be reported to next week's meeting of the Trust Board.

But today they revealed "professional issues" surrounding the nurses concerned still had to be addressed. The announcement comes exactly two years to the week after Charlie died within 13 hours of birth.

A connector was not fitted to her air supply - resulting in 100 times more oxygen than normal entering her body, bursting her lungs and causing a brain haemorrhage.

But the problem with the equipment was not reported for two days after the baby's death on January 19, 1997.

Only then was a second post mortem examination ordered and two nurses suspended, an inquest heard later.

Nurses Sister Dorothy Holgate and Staff Nurse Susan Ball have been suspended on full pay since that time, awaiting the outcome of police investigations, the inquest into the baby's death and the internal investigation by the health trust. After an intensive investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service decided against criminal proceedings.

Today a trust spokesman said the investigation was still not complete.

He said: "We have still to consider the professional issues regarding the nurses involved.

"Until that is complete the report to the Board."

He added he was not able to give a completion date at this stage.

Following the two-day inquest in Burnley last year, East Lancashire coroner recorded a verdict of misadventure.

The trust spokesman said that when the inquiry report is complete, some aspects would go to the public meeting of trust directors, while others would remain private.

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