The HSE's inquiry into the Savita Halappanavar case appears to be unravelling, with the solicitor for Savita Halappanavar's family now saying her husband has no faith in the probe into her death and will not cooperate with it.

The latest development is a serious embarrassment for the HSE and Health Minister James Reilly, and there is now a major question mark over whether the inquiry as currently constituted can go ahead.

The HSE has now said the chairman of the team inquiring into the death of Savita has sought a face-to-face meeting with her husband, Praveen Halappanavar. It says it is is taking very seriously the concerns of the family about the composition of the inquiry team.

It is speculated that the independent health safety body HIQA may ultimately be called into undertake a statutory inquiry. A decision on how to proceed may be announced following today's Cabinet meeting, with the Government now under pressure to ensure that whatever type of inquiry is carried out is seen to be as independent as possible.

Informed sources have expressed astonishment at the fact that the HSE saw it appropriate to appoint three medical staff members from Galway University Hospital, where Ms Halappanaver died, to sit on the inquiry team.

There will also be questions raised about the apparently poor communication between the HSE and Ms Halappanavar's husband.

Ms Halappanavar died following a miscarriage at Galway University Hospital on 28 October, having reportedly been previously refysed a termination.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Pat Kenny, Gerard O'Donnell said Praveen Halappanavar would not consent to have Savita's records looked at by the HSE inquiry team.

Mr Halappanavar earlier had objected to the fact that there were three medical staff from Galway University Hospital on the inquiry team set up by the HSE.

He said he wanted a fully independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his wife's death.

Mr Halappanavar told the Irish Times he was requesting that there be no staff member from the Galway hospital on the inquiry team.

The HSE announced details of the membership of the inquiry team yesterday.

The Chairman of the inquiry, UK obstetrician Prof Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran said the the main reason to have internal people from Galway involved was not for them to give specific directions but to find out about their standard practice.

Ms Halappanavar died at the Galway hospital on October 28 having reportedly been refused a termination as there was a foetal heartbeat present, although she was told the baby would not live. She miscarried and subsequently died of septicaemia.

Mr Halappanavar said he wanted the truth to come out. "As long as it is a fully independent inquiry so that the truth will come out. It does bother me that there are people from Galway hospital on the inquiry. I would prefer no Galway people on the inquiry. I will basically request that there be no-one from Galway on it."

The inquiry team has seven members and is chaired by Prof Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, head of obstetrics and gynaecology at St George's Hospital, University of London,

The three consultants from Galway on the inquiry team,one of whom is an obstetrician, had not been involved in the care of Ms Halappanavar.

Fianna Fail also called yesterday for a fully independent inquiry to be set up to look into the case.

Galway staff included in Savita probe