THE hospital that appointed Richard Neale a year after he was struck off knew all about his appalling record, the disgraced surgeon has claimed.

Victims of the North Yorkshire surgeon called for changes in the law last week when it emerged that Mr Neale - who has been struck off twice in his life - spent nine months advising other doctors how to avoid clinical errors at a Manchester hospital.

The health authority has since apologised for the 'insensitive appointment.'

Mr Neale was sacked from his junior administrative post at South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust four months ago, but victims of the former Friarage Hospital surgeon say it is a scandal that Mr Neale was ever re-employed by an NHS hospital.

Now Mr Neale - speaking for the first time since he was struck off for botching operations two years ago - has claimed that he was taken on despite his openness about being struck off.

During an interview on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Mr Neale made it clear that he believes he still can play a role in the NHS.

Despite being found guilty of 34 counts of serious professional misconduct, involving botched operations and dishonesty, Mr Neale said it would be 'very sad indeed' if he was not allowed to continue to work for the NHS.

Mr Neale claimed that during his interview with the Wythenshawe Hospital he told officials that he had been struck off by the GMC. In addition, the surgeon said he sent the hospital 'a detailed letter explaining precisely what had happened.'

He also told a consultant cardiologist his story 'once more' before being offered the post, he said

Protesting at calls for a clampdown on struck off doctors, Mr Neale said such a move would be wrong. "It seems I have less rights than a convicted prisoner who has left jail," he said.

Mr Neale said he felt full of remorse for what had happened. "I still have nightmares about it and I am sure I shall do for the rest of my days," he said.

A senior Department of Health official spoke of anger at the way warnings about Mr Neale appeared to have been ignored by hospital bosses.

The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, is taking the question of whether the rules regarding struck-off doctors need tightening up very seriously, the senior official added.

Following the radio interview Neil Goodwin, chief executive of Greater Manchester Health Authority, apologised for the authority's 'insensitive appointment' and admitted it had made a mistake.

Mr Goodwin said: "The appointment of Richard Neale to this post was clearly unacceptable, and on behalf of the health service in Manchester I want to apologise for the distress this may have caused his former patients and their families.

"A high-level investigation has looked into this incident and recommendations are being acted upon to prevent similar inappropriate appointments in the future.

"We can reassure the public that Richard Neale was employed in a very junior position and was not involved in direct contact with patients. Nevertheless, it was an insensitive appointment and we are aware that it must not be repeated."

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, founder of the patient support group, said it was vital that the forthcoming investigation into the scandal included the Manchester episode.

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.