A HEALTH campaigner has made a formal complaint to police about the conduct of a suspended NHS surgeon.

Graham Maloney visited Northallerton police station last Friday and asked detectives to investigate consultant gynaecologist Neil Hebblethwaite.

The consultant is suspended from his duties at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital pending the outcome of a General Medical Council (GMC) hearing into allegations of irregularities, including having an affair with a patient.

Mr Maloney, who lives near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, has campaigned for improved patients' rights for several years.

In the past, he has been the mouthpiece for victims of the former Friarage gynaecologist Richard Neale, who was struck off by the GMC after botching a string of operations.

Now, after consulting the woman patient who first complained about the surgeon, Mr Maloney has contacted the police.

Nine months ago, Mr Hebblethwaite was sacked by bosses at the Friarage after he admitted a number of irregular- ities. The Northallerton trust also passed details of the case on to the GMC.

However, after the consultant appealed against the trust's decision to sack him, trust bosses reinstated Mr Hebblethwaite three months ago with a written warning about his future conduct.

Mr Maloney said he had "no alternative" but to bring the matter to the attention of the police "for them to carry out a full investigation in the interests of the public".

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said he could not comment at this stage.