A PUBLIC inquiry into the death of a 10-year-old boy from a treatable condition moved a step closer today.

On his last day in office, it was revealed that First Minister Rhodri Morgan was minded to call an inquiry into the death of Robbie Powell.

The issue of the inquiry and its terms of reference will be decided by Mr Morgan's successor in the New Year.

Robbie died 19 years ago after doctors failed to detect he had Addison's disease, a chronic but treatable condition affecting the adrenal glands.

The charity, Action against Medical Accidents, recently abandoned a judicial review into a decision by the General Medical Council (GMC) not to investigate the case after an application for protected costs was dismissed.

Robbie's father William, of Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley, asked the GMC to investigate in 2003.

In 2004 an inquest jury returned a verdict of natural causes, aggravated by neglect.

The inquest heard Robbie was seen by a series of doctors in the months before his death in April 1990, but none diagnosed his condition. It was only discovered after a post-mortem examination was carried out.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said: "The First Minister has indicated to Mr Powell on a number of occasions in previous correspondence that he felt unable to reach the point at which a final conclusion to his request for a public inquiry could be reached whilst there were outstanding issues being actively considered by other bodies.

"Following recent developments in the case relating to the GMC, the First Minister decided that he was now able to advise Mr Powell how he was minded to proceed.

"The First Minister has written to Mr Powell and the other parties affected to say that he is minded to set up an inquiry.

"This letter starts a consultative process which will end on January 25, 2010, and which will inform further decisions by the First Minister's successor on the issue of an inquiry and its detailed terms of reference."

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