Support builds for inquiry into GMC
08/02/2002

Richard Neale's former boss in Canada has strongly backed calls for a public inquiry and attacked the General Medical Council for its failure to protect patients.

Dr Brian Galliford, chief of service at the Prince George Regional Hospital in British Columbia, was one of Mr Neale's former colleagues who expressed amazement that he had been allowed to continue practising in the UK.

Last night, the surgeon told The Northern Echo he wanted to see a public inquiry focus on the role of the GMC.

The GMC's failure to take any action despite being informed that Mr Neale had been struck off the medical record in Canada has already been criticised by the former Friarage Hospital's victims.

In an emailed comment, Mr Galliford said: "I would certainly support a call for a public enquiry, but not into Richard Neale.

"The enquiry should be into your GMC who have shown repeatedly, in this case, that it just doesn't work to protect the British public from harmful doctors."

"Whether this is from incompetence, inefficiency, or whatever, would be deduced and hopefully corrected by such an inquiry."

Mr Neale, who was struck off the British Medical Register in July 2000, after 34 out of 35 sample charges of professional misconduct were found proven, "surely has served his time as the whipping boy for the GMC," said Mr Galliford.

As he was no longer practising he was no longer a threat to the public, he said.

A spokeswoman for the GMC said: "He is entitled to his own opinion but the Government has said there will be an inquiry into Richard Neale. Whether it is in public is still being debated.

"We expect we will have a part to play in that inquiry."