Speaking to BBC Inside Out North West, Dr. Kirkup explained that a key recommendation which emerged during an inquiry into the crimes committed by late Manchester GP, Harold Shipman, would have saved the lives of numerous infants had it been put in place.
Elaborating on his findings, Dr. Kirkup asserted that death certificates required greater scrutiny on the part of medical examiners - something which was flagged during the Shipman inquiry in 2003.
Had these reforms been properly enforced, Dr. Kirkup, a former Department of Health official, claims that problems emerging in Furness General Hospital would have been identified much sooner.
The reforms included the option of having an independent examiner available to liase with relatives should they have any concerns about the way in which their family member died.
In addition to this, medical examiners would be trained to spot specific death patterns or certain issues which may raise concern.
Having conducted an inquiry into medical failings at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, Dr. Kirkup established that a "lethal mix" of factors contributed to the unnecessary deaths of the babies and a mother between 2004 and 2013.
According to his report, working relationships between doctors and midwives were extremely poor, staff were 'deficient in skills and knowledge' and a number of deaths were ignored because there had been a failure to detect a pattern that may have raised concern.
While a number of pilot schemes for medical examiners are currently underway, they have yet to be implemented on a national scale.
Commenting on the failure to implement the reforms recommended 12 years ago, Dr. Kirkup insists finances play a role, saying: "I think in the end it does come down to money."
Speaking out about the issue earlier this year, Suzy Lisham, the president of the Royal College of Pathologists dubbed it 'incomprehensible' that the system had yet to be reformed to include medical examiners.
