Health Minister Robin Swann told MLAs that the inquiry was converted to a statutory public inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 from 11 December 2020.

The inquiry was originally established in 2018 to review the recall of neurology patients by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Around 3,000 patients were recalled after concerns about possible misdiagnoses by a certain neurologist, who was later suspended from practice.

Mr Swann said: “This important change will help the inquiry panel team complete its work with timely and unfettered access to all relevant information.

“The chair of the inquiry will remain as Mr Brett Lockhart QC, supported by Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor as an inquiry panel member.

“I want to thank the team for all the work carried out to date and wish them well going forward.”