Neale victims still waiting for 'fast-track' treatment
Barry Nelson
14/01/2002

Nine months after they were promised fast-track surgery the victims of Richard Neale are still waiting in vain, it was claimed last night.

The disgraced surgeon was struck off after leaving large numbers of his former patients in agony after botching a string of operations.

But despite being told that they would be given rapid access to corrective surgery, not one of more than 70 women referred to a specialist has been operated on.

Many have endured years of pain, discomfort and incontinence since undergoing surgery at The Friarage Hospital in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, where Neale worked for ten years.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, chairman and co-founder of the Neale victims group, said: "They said they would fund special, fast-track health care for the women, including reconstructive surgery but so far it is all talk."

When told of the delays during a visit to his Darlington constituency, Health Secretary Alan Milburn voiced "concern" and promised action.

After the GMC hearing in July 2000, the Neale ex-patients group pressed the Department of Health to take urgent action to meet the health needs of the women.

Following a series of meetings with the Government's chief medical officer, Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, it was announced that a unique package deal had been agreed.

The unprecedented offer was to provide up to 250 women with access to fast-track treatment.

This involved the women being assessed by an NHS specialist at a private hospital in Harrogate.

Those requiring surgery or further treatment would be seen by one of Britain's top uro-gynaecologists at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

But so far, while about 50 women have been seen at the RVI and another 20 have appointments, no surgery has taken place.

Pat Looms, 55, from Northallerton, who was left incontinent, said: "I was hoping I would have had surgery by now so I could look forward to starting the new year and getting back to some sort of normality."

Irene Stewart, 57, from Seaton Carew, who has a damaged pelvic bone said: "I don't think the fast-tracking meant anything. The trouble is they have not put in enough money. One consultant can't do everything."

Paul Hilton, the eminent RVI urogynaecologist nominated by the Department of Health's Clinical Governance Support Unit stressed that he was seeing the patients as quickly as possible but had to fit them into his existing workload.

Stephen O'Neill, spokes-man for the Clinical Government Support Unit,offered to meet the patient group and promised that additional resources would be made available if it would help resolve the situation.

Mr Milburn said: "I am concerned about this. I will, as a matter of urgency, be chasing up the relevant officials."