James Wolffe QC

Mr Wolffe said the unit’s findings would help determine if fatal accident inquires should be held and that this included, but was not limited to, “care home workers, frontline NHS staff, public transport employees and emergency services personnel”.

Such deaths will be registered with the investigation system at the Crown Office and the “nature and extent of investigation will depend on the circumstances” of each death, Mr Wolffe said.

He added: “These arrangements will help to make sure that in due course we will as a society better understand the circumstances of these deaths.

“And where there are lessons that we as a society can learn for the future, we will learn those lessons - knowing as we do that every one of these deaths is an individual tragedy that calls for profound sorrow, compassion and respect.”