A HOSPITAL has called in expert help in an attempt to restore its battered public image.

Northallerton's Friarage Hospital, in North Yorkshire, has asked a national support team to work with the trust in ensuring it offers a high standard of health care.

The move coincides with the departure of the trust's chief executive, Tony Bruce, widely criticised over the handling of scandals involving two gynaecologists at the hospital.

Mr Bruce will instead oversee the formation of the new Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust, which will take over some of the Friarage's community-based services from 2002. He will be replaced at the Friarage by Bruce Skilbeck, former chief executive of the Western Isles Health Board in Scotland.

Peter Garland, regional director of the Northern and Yorkshire NHS Region, said: "There have been some difficult issues to deal with following the case of former gynaecologist Richard Neale.

"It is important that people locally have confidence that the trust will be open and honest as an organisation."

The NHS Executive said that, in the light of public concerns, the trust had asked the NHS Clinical Governance Support Team for help. The team, established in January, aims to work with NHS organisations to improve their performance.

A spokesman said the team's aim was to help trusts ensure the quality of their health care.

He said the team was not a "hit squad" but did operate where its resources, advice and expertise were needed.

The trust has been heavily criticised for delays in co-operating with former patients of Richard Neale, who was struck off the medical register earlier this year over a string of botched operations.

Following the General Medical Council hearing against Mr Neale, GMC president Sir Donald Irvine said the case highlighted serious deficiencies in NHS procedure, with the first complaint from management not until February 1998.

And hospital management also came under fire for its handling of a complaint against Neil Hebblethwaite, who was sacked earlier this month for having an affair with a female patient.

Graham Maloney, spokesman for the support group for former patients of Richard Neale, welcomed the changes but said they were still pressing for a major inquiry into the scandal.

He said: "This is a way of starting the process and restoring public confidence.

"Any help for a hospital that clearly has its problems is a major step forward.

"The buck has got to stop at the top."