CAMPAIGNERS have reacted angrily to news that disgraced surgeon Richard Neale has been invited to take part in the forthcoming inquiry into the scandal surrounding his work.

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 surgeon between 1985 and 1997.

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

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

News of the invitation 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, added: "Will they ask him what he did with all the missing records and missing complaint records?"

Mr 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