An independent investigation is to take place into a hospital unit where a Suffolk paedophile doctor worked as a children’s cancer specialist.

Myles Bradbury, from Herringswell, near Newmarket, sexually abused 18 boys aged between 10 and 16 while working at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. He was jailed for 22 years and was struck off the medical register.

The chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals’ NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Keith McNeil, has written to the parents of the children abused. He has informed them the investigation will examine procedures in the hospital’s paediatric oncology unit where Bradbury worked.

The letter said: “The purpose of this independent investigation is to establish how Dr Bradbury was able to carry out his activities, how his offending behaviour went undetected and what lessons there are to be learnt for this service, the Trust and the wider NHS.

“I am writing to make you aware of this investigation, and invite you to contribute. I should emphasise that the independent investigation, which is being undertaken by a company called Verita, is looking at our internal governance in the hospital and not at the clinical care of individual patients.”

Dr McNeil adds in the letter that Verita would like to hear from patients, their family or carers who may have mentioned a concern about Bradbury to a member of staff, or were “dissuaded from doing so”.

Families can contact Verita, confidentially by emailing lauraconlon@verita.net or by calling 020 7494 5670.

All of Bradbury’s victims were suffering from leukaemia, haemophilia or other serious conditions, and some have since died.

He was jailed for 22 years at Cambridge Crown Court last December.