A review of child protection is to be carried out in Scotland following an independent inquiry into the murder of a three-year-old girl.

Kennedy McFarlane was murdered by his mother's boyfriend in Dumfries and Galloway last May. Thomas Duncan, 33, admitted the murder and was jailed for life in December.

The youngster died despite numerous referrals to health services and concerns raised with social services several times before her death.

The child protection committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council commissioned an independent review in her death, led by Dr Helen Hammond, a consultant paediatrician in West Lothian.

Her report criticised social services staff and health professionals and several Dumfries and Galloway Council social work managers and staff face disciplinary action as a result of the review.

Dr Hammond also called for a national review of child protection procedures in Scotland involving all the key agencies to ensure they are working together effectively.

Concerns about Kennedy's welfare were first raised by the staff at her playschool in February last year.

Health visitors, GPs, the local hospital and social workers were subsequently alerted to a range of injuries suffered by the girl including eye injuries, back pains, urinary tract infections, loss of hair and bruising to her face.

It was not until May that the various agencies involved in her case agreed to hold a child protection case conference. But before that meeting was held, Kennedy was dead.

Dr Hammond's report revealed that no one involved in her case had asked about her mother's partner even though the girl's deterioration could be dated from his residence in the same house.

Keith Makin, director of social services for Dumfries and Galloway, confirmed that disciplinary action was being taken against some staff in his department.

The new child protection review is likely to last up to 18 months.

It has been launched after a former care worker was jailed for 15 years at Glasgow high court this month for 30 offences of sexual abuse against children in Fife children's homes between the 1960s and mid-1980s. David Murphy, of Troon, Ayrshire, had admitted the offences. Fife Council has also launched its own independent inquiry.