Outrage as Neale invited to inquiry
Barry Nelson
02/12/2002

Disgraced surgeon Richard Neale has been invited to take part in the forthcoming inquiry into the scandal.

It raises the prospect of the struck-off former consultant at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, giving evidence while many of his victims are boycotting the hearing.

They are angry that it is being held in private and is restricted to how the NHS dealt with complaints about the North Yorkshire surgeon between 1985 and 1997.

Despite the boycott, the inquiry will be in York on Thursday and Friday this week, to meet witnesses who may be willing to give written or verbal evidence.

An official inquiry spokesman confirmed that the gynaecologist "has been approached and invited to take part in the inquiry".

News that the former head of maternity at the North Yorkshire hospital has been invited to take part was greeted with horror by members of the group set up six years ago to stop him practising.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, chairwoman of the Action and Support Group for Medical Victims of Richard Neale, said: "Our group advisor, Graham Maloney, is not being allowed in to this inquiry yet they are giving a platform to the very doctor that caused mayhem."

Mrs Wright-Hogeland, who lives near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, added: "Will they ask him what he did with all the missing records and missing complaint records?"

Graham Maloney, who is barred from the inquiry because he is not a patient, said: "It's an absolute disgrace that Richard Neale is being given an opportunity to sound off."

Mr Neale was struck off by the General Medical Council in 2000 after 34 out of 35 allegations of serious professional misconduct were proven.

They found he had botched operations, lied to patients, falsified his CV and altered records. Last year, the Department of Health announced an independent inquiry would be held to investigate how the NHS dealt with complaints against him.