Parents of children who died following heart operations at Bristol Royal Infirmary have held talks with the leading barrister who chaired the inquiry into the murders committed by nurse Beverley Allitt.

The parents want a full public inquiry into the Bristol case following the decision of the General Medical Council that further action should be taken against cardiothoracic surgeon Mr James Wisheart, his assistant Dr Janardhan Dhasmana and their manager Dr John Roylance.

The three doctors are accused of serious professional misconduct after the deaths of 29 babies in their care. They are accused of continuing undertake heart operations despite evidence that death rates were unacceptably high.

'Purely exploratory'

Seven members of the Bristol Heart Children's Group held private talks at the NHS executive offices in Bristol with Sir Cecil Clothier QC.

Group founder Malcolm Curnow, whose nine-month-old daughter Verity was one of those who died, said as he went into the meeting: "This one is a fact-finding mission. It is purely exploratory."

The parents were hoping to discuss what forms of inquiry can be held into the Bristol deaths.

"We still at this moment want a public inquiry but we are discounting nothing. This is an opportunity that has been offered to us to increase our knowledge," said Mr Curnow.

The meeting, arranged through Health Secretary Frank Dobson, was described by an NHS Executive spokesman as "private and informal".