THE HEAD of the General Medical Council (GMC) has broadcast an apology to the victims of disgraced North Yorkshire surgeon Richard Neale.

Patients who campaigned to have the former Friarage Hospital surgeon struck off, say the GMC failed to heed warnings about the consultant gynaecologist until it was too late.

Sir Donald Irvine, president of the GMC, told listeners to BBC Radio 4's You And Yours consumer programme that he wanted to apologise to the victims of Neale - who was finally struck off this summer - for failing to act sooner.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, from near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, told listeners how a group of former patients of Neale got together to try to get him struck off the medical register.

Despite being struck off in Canada, Neale was able to work in the NHS and the private sector for many years, botching a series of operations.

Sir Donald told listeners: "It is an appalling story.

"I am extremely sorry that Mrs Wright-Hogeland and others have been so damaged and hurt by my profession, and I want to apologise to them for that - for our part in that."

The GMC president said it was "not right" that Neale had been allowed to work at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton after he was struck off in Canada.

Sir Donald said the GMC was changing, and pointed out that four doctors from Canada, who had poor clinical records in Canada had recently been prevented from practising in the United Kingdom.

Mrs Wright-Hogeland said it was very gratifying to hear Sir Donald apologise on air, but renewed her call for a major inquiry into the Neale scandal.