HOSPITAL staff who worked with a consultant recently dismissed for having an affair with a woman patient have spoken out in his support.

In a letter to Mr Neil Hebblethwaite and his wife, Deborah, theatre staff from the Friarage hospital, Northallerton, where the consultant obstetrician worked, have said they are devastated he has lost his job.

The letter, which has been signed by 32 people, has also been sent to chairman of Northallerton health services NHS trust, Brig Johnny Wardle, and chief executive Mr Tony Bruce. Another copy is to be forwarded to the General Medical Council which will be investigating the case.

Mrs Margaret Potter, aged 61, a theatre sister at the hospital, said she had worked with Mr Hebblethwaite since he started there.

"I think he should have been disciplined but not dismissed. He's a good surgeon - very conscientious. If he goes we will have lost another good gynaecologist,'' she said.

"We are absolutely devastated and appalled by the outcome of the trust's hearing. We all feel that he didn't deserve to be treated in this way.''

She added that she hoped Mr Hebblethwaite would appeal against the decision taken earlier this month and that the trust board would change its mind.

His dismissal followed an internal inquiry which upheld complaints made by a woman patient.

She said at the time that the seriousness behind her allegations had been proved by the trust's decision to dismiss Mr Hebblethwaite.

At the end of the inquiry, the hospital trust said that it had no option but to sack him.

But since the decision, many of Mr Hebblethwaite's former patients have written letters to the D&S Times showing support for the consultant who will now face a GMC inquiry.

Mr Steve Spoerry, director of operations at the trust, said this week that it was up to Mr Hebblethwaite if he wanted to appeal against the dismissal.

"We were very sad that we found it necessary to dismiss Mr Hebblethwaite. As Tony Bruce said at the time, he was a committed and respected consultant who up to date held an exemplary employment record.

"Mr Hebblethwaite has a right to appeal against the decision and it's up to him whether he exercises that right. That is the mechanism by which the trust would reconsider its decision.''