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AS a former patient of the disgraced doctor Richard Neale, together with Sheila Wright-Hogeland, I founded the Action and Support Group for former damaged patients.

Following the GMC hearing, which concluded in July, there has been a feeling of great relief that the world is a much safer place now he has been removed from directly practising on unsuspecting patients.

The recognition that we were not just a bunch of neurotic women was reassuring. We have had to fight long and hard for the basic recognition, that, in the interests of public safety, Richard Neale's licence had to be withdrawn.

I wish to convey my thanks to all those who have helped and supported our group in its endeavours. The Northern Echo staff - Barry Nelson, Ian Lamming and Mark Foster - took up the fight on our behalf.

Their input and support has helped make those in authority sit up and listen. This has been a difficult journey for all those ladies and their families whose lives continue to be adversely affected every day as a result of being at the mercy of this man.

I have now decided it is time for me to withdraw from an active role within the Action and Support Group as secretary. There is, however, still much work to be done to bring about an inquiry into all aspects which this case raises and I wish continued success and good health to all the ladies and their families who continue the campaign. - Carole Millward, Northallerton.

NEIL HEBBLETHWAITE

MY mother and I are former patients of Neil Hebblethwaite and both of us were not only impressed by his brilliant expertise as a surgeon, but also found him to be a very courteous gentleman in every sense of the word.

There is no comparison, whatsoever, between Mr Hebblethwaite and the disgraced Richard Neale and I cannot help but feel that the Northallerton Health Service NHS Trust got it all drastically wrong in the way it handled both cases.

Although it was morally wrong of Mr Hebblethwaite to be foolish enough to become intimately involved with a patient, we need to remember that it takes two people to have an affair.

As time goes by, the trust will regret the loss of Mr Hebblethwaite and will realise what a valuable surgeon he was.

As for my mother and myself, we just hope that everything will turn out right for Mr Hebblethwaite and his family and wish them all best wishes in the future. - EA Price, Thirsk.

ARTS CENTRE

WHY does the Darlington Arts Centre just concentrate on blues music? We all don't like listening to bands like The Hamsters every other month.

Hopefully, George Reynolds can sort this out by allowing concerts to be held at Darlington Football Club's new stadium when it is erected.

That way top musical outfits like Madness could play in the town instead of us all having to put up with unknown bands at dour blues festivals. Time for a change, I think. Get rockin' George! - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

KOSOVO

I RECENTLY read a letter by Andrew Lightfoot (HAS, Oct 14), which ran down our national leadership's response to Serbian warmongering.

Andrew Lightfoot continues to express support for the indefensible. He denigrates British and world leaderships' response to religious and ethnic intolerance leading to genocide.

Mr Lightfoot obviously has never been at the receiving end of barbaric prejudice, nor would appear to appreciate the reality of its effects. - CS Simons, Bishop Auckland.

PROSTITUTION

LITTLE has been heard from Cleveland Police and their progress in removing the red light district and stamping out prostitution in Middlesbrough.

Has the publication of the clients' names and addresses made any difference? Not many have been reported lately.

It appears that some of the men have had their marriages broken, some have left the district, others moved to jobs in another area and some are still being ridiculed by neighbours and workmates.

The prostitutes know they live in danger, but if driven to remote areas their cries for help if they are attacked will not be heard.

Prostitution has, is, and always will be a fact of life throughout the world whether it is a rich or poor country. Some men will pay for sex and some women will provide sex for money and red light districts are in every sizeable town in Britain.

Surely there are more vicious crimes happening which could be tackled if police time was not taken up with petty skirmishes of an outdated law, which harms no one but the participants. - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

OPENCAST MINING

I AM responding to comments made by Councillor Tony Moore (Echo, Sept 28). Eldon Deep was registered for opencasting in 1946. Opencast planning was applied for eight to ten years ago. The councils and the majority of residents in the immediate area agreed not to oppose the application.

The Southfield Brusselton site is different entirely. There is no 1946 registration, and I can not imagine the families living in the immediate vicinity wanting opencasting on their doorstep. The land is well farmed, the becks wend their way down the valley. The hidden valley is a pleasure to walk, and there is an abundance of footpaths. There are peewits, curlews, owls, ducks, heron, deer, fox, hares, rabbits and water vole. Why desecrate all this beautiful countryside, trees, hedges and becks. For what? - Ken Bowes, Shildon.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

IT seems to be fashionable these days to blame the medical profession for failings (real or imagined) in the health of the nation.

The media, never shy of sensationalism, seems to be prompting the public to be suspicious of doctors.

This is a very dangerous road down which to travel.

The doctors, nurses and consultants perform wonders in their service to the nation.

Of course, mistakes will be made and mistakes in diagnosis and treatment can result in fatalities, but instances of this are rare. The medical profession is at the sharp end of life and deserves our support, not carping criticism. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.