Police call in pathologist for new look at outrage
Barry Nelson
12/03/2002

Disgraced surgeon Richard Neale could face a new police probe, it was revealed last night.

Campaigners have been pressing for the former Friarage Hospital surgeon to face charges over a career which left more than 80 women seriously injured.

But five months ago North Yorkshire Police said there was insufficient evidence to take action against the surgeon, after five of the worst cases were reviewed by an independent medical expert.

Now - in response to an appeal from ex-Northallerton mayor John Bacon - detectives have agreed to ask Home Office pathologists to give a second opinion.

Mr Bacon, who was mayor of the North Yorkshire town in 1983 and now lives in Richmond, said: "That is a significant step forward."

The former mayor had expressed concern that the medical expert called in by the police briefly worked with the former Friarage Hospital surgeon.

Graham Maloney, advisor to the Neale ex-patients, welcomed the news but said he was "bewildered" why the police had not sought a second opinion during the investigation.

In a separate move, officials at the Health and Safety Executive for Yorkshire and the North-East have confirmed that they are reviewing their policy about intervention in the NHS, following a request by Mr Bacon to look at whether health and safety laws were broken during the Neale scandal.

While the HSE does not normally investigate complaints about clinical judgment, the agency has agreed to look again at whether the management of doctors by hospital bosses could be investigated by the HSE.

North Yorkshire Police spent two years investigating allegations of assault against Mr Neale, who lives near Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire.

More than 200 women say they suffered at the hands of the surgeon, who botched a string of operations during his ten years as a consultant gynaecologist at the Friarage Hospital.

After a concerted campaign by former patients, Mr Neale was struck off the medical register in July 2000.

The General Medical Council's Professional Conduct Committee found 34 out of 35 allegations against Mr Neale proven, including botching operations, operating without permission and lying to patients.