CAMPAIGNERS have won their fight to have the inquiry into the scandal surrounding disgraced surgeon Richard Neale focus on his wider NHS career.

The change of heart by the Department of Health will allow the inquiry team to consider what happened between 1985 and 1997 - two years later than the original period covered.

This means they will scrutinise the notorious reference given to Mr Neale by managers at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital to get rid of him and allowing him to endanger other NHS patients.

Campaign group advisor Graham Maloney said the change was 'a major step forward' but still fell short of the group's objectives, which include allowing private patients to give evidence.

Mr Neale arrived at the Friarage in 1985 after a career in Canada which saw him struck off following the death of a patient.

Despite his record in Canada, he was promoted at the Friarage until the torrent of complaints against him forced management to give him a £100,000 pay-off and a favourable reference to get him off their hands.

He subsequently worked for Leicester Royal Infirmary and St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight before going into the private sector.

A separate NHS investigation has concluded that Mr Neale should never have been appointed as a clinical auditor at Manchester's Wythenshawe Hospital between April and August this year.

In response to protests from Richmond MP William Hague, Department of Health officials have released details in a letter by Professor Robert Tinston, former North West NHS regional director. He looked into the circumstances of Mr Neale's employment and concluded that the former surgeon should not have been appointed.

The South Manchester University Hospital Trust is currently also carrying out its own inquiry.

Meanwhile, the team conducting the main inquiry, which is likely to be held in York early next year behind closed doors, invites former patients and former colleagues to contact the inquiry secretary, Pauline Fox, on (0207) 972 2400.

The Legal Services Ombudsman has decided to take no further action in a two-year battle over complaints made against barrister Malcolm Fortune, who defended Mr Neale during the General Medical Council hearing which led to him being struck off.

But the ombudsman, Anne Abraham, criticised the Bar Council for failing to properly inform the patients group, and left the door open to possible further action by inviting comments from the patient group's advisor, Graham Maloney.