A mum who drowned her own children may not have to give evidence at the inquest into their deaths despite it focusing on the mental healthcare she received before committing the heinous crime.

Samantha Ford, who was jailed last summer for killing 23-month-old Jake and Chloe at her Margate home on Boxing Day 2018, is currently serving part of her 10-year sentence at a psychiatric unit before she is transferred to a prison.

Her actions were described as a twisted act of vengeance against her estranged husband, Steven, during a trial at the Old Bailey, and she was called a narcissist.

Earlier this year, following a push by her legal team, it was agreed an Article 2 inquest would be held into the toddler's deaths, which is a wider investigation calling into question the healthcare Ford received in the lead-up to her horrific crime.

But at a pre-inquest review today, her barrister, Brenda Campbell QC, who also represented her during the criminal proceedings, said she is currently not due to give evidence at the full hearing, expected later this year, because of concerns over her continuing mental health.

Mr Ford, however, says he believes she should be providing evidence and is likely to make a formal request that she does.

"They're saying it's not relevant for her to do so, which I question," he said.

"The coroner's court and all the interested parties are not disputing the cause of death of the children; they were drowned [in the bath].

"Now they're trying to see whether the NHS is to blame, which I've said all along is ridiculous.

"I'm exhausted with people feeling as though she is the victim; she is not the victim, she is the cause.

"This isn't me attacking her, this is just how it is."

During today's proceedings, it emerged none of Ford's family will be giving evidence about her care before Jake and Chloe were killed, and that medical notes from after their deaths are deemed "not relevant" and will not be heard.

Mr Ford, who believes the Article 2 inquest is a "PR exercise" to shift the blame over the killings away from his wife, says he is desperate for it to all be over.

"By the time the full inquest happens, it will likely be past the two-year anniversary of my children's deaths," he said.

"It is exhausting and a lot of energy is going into this.

"My life is on hold, I haven't worked, I don't have a job, I have no job prospects, my savings are almost gone and I'm trying to go through a divorce that I can't afford.

"I don't know when this will end and I just want it to be over."

Read more: All the latest news from Thanet