Sir, - It was with great dismay I read that Mr Neil Hebblethwaite, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, had been dismissed from his post at the Friarage hospital, Northallerton.

I believe this action will in time be found to have been a grave and unfortunate mistake.

I joined the staff of the hospital at the beginning of 1995 and have known Mr Hebblethwaite for about the preceding five-year period. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind he is a sincere and talented clinician who has served the Friarage and Hambleton people extremely well. Indeed, he recently nursed my wife through an extremely difficult gynaecological episode and did so in a patient, kind, expert and caring manner.

Mr Hebblethwaite's transient liaison with another lady patient was unfortunate, but I believe this mistake is a matter, ultimately, to be dealt with by him, his wife and family.

There is also little doubt in my mind that the female involved (she remains scrupulously anonymous) is not the vulnerable, unsuspecting patient wilfully led into the affair. Am I wrong to assume she was an adult, consenting, intelligent party?

Some months ago, I appended my signature to a statement of support for Mr Hebblethwaite which was signed, I believe, without exception by his colleagues at the Friarage hospital. Please let your readers know my flag is still nailed to that mast.

I believe Mr Hebblethwaite deserves all the practical support that can now be mustered.

KERRY ALLERTON

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon,

Friarage hospital,

Northallerton.

Praise for hospital

Sir, - In view of the adverse publicity the Friarage hospital in Northallerton has been receiving, I would like to comment on my recent experience there.

Having damaged my foot in an accident with my Flymo, I was taken to the Friarage by ambulance. I was admitted to casualty without delay and after examination by a nurse and doctor was in the operating theatre having the wound cleaned within the hour. I was then admitted to Ward 7 where I stayed for four days having a further visit to the operating theatre to have the wound stitched. I was very apprehensive on entering the pre-med area and one of the nurses, bless her, very kindly held my hand.

All the staff in Ward 7 were caring, attentive and very efficient. Nothing was too much trouble. The food was well-prepared and a good choice offered. The ward itself was squeaky clean. The cleaners were excellent and nothing was left untouched from floor to ceiling. I was intrigued to see that not only were the working surfaces of the tea trolley cleaned, but also the trolley was turned upside down and all parts cleaned including the wheels!

I have had many years supervising staff and am well experienced in looking for oversights and errors made by my subordinates. At the Friarage there was absolutely nothing to be criticised. The staff in casualty, the operating theatre, the ward and the doctors were without exception most capable, efficient, caring and friendly. If only the rest of the NHS achieved the same standards as the Friarage, we would have an NGS service of which we could be justly proud. We are fortunate in the Northallerton area in having such dedicated staff in our hospital.

M E GODDARD

Lower Garth,

Thornton Steward,

Ripon.

Skilled surgeon

Sir, - I have just read in the D&S Times (October 6) of the dismissal of Mr Hebblethwaite from the staff of the Friarage hospital. I was recently his patient and found him a skilled and considerate surgeon and the arrangements in the clinic were of the highest order.

In this day and age I would regard it as a real tragedy if one indiscretion was to deprive the community of the service of this excellent doctor. I wonder if there are other patients who are dismayed by his dismissal.

There is simply no comparison with the case of the recently disgraced Mr Neale.

K M D COLTMAN

Galloway Rise,

West Burton,

Leyburn.

Unanswered

Sir, - What a pity Coun Paul Cullen (D&S Oct 6) didn't answer the questions posed by Coun Jane Parlour. Even more, what a pity Coun John Blackie didn't respond himself, but perhaps that tells its own story.

The facts remain that Richmondshire District Council 'Independent' councillors are lead by someone who has joined the Conservative group on the North Yorkshire County Council.

Coun Jane Parlour was simply pointing out this fact and asking how this can happen and therefore how independent is a group led by a member of the Conservatives on NYCC.

Shouldn't Coun Cullen have explained why Coun Blackie didn't join the correctly established Independent group on NYCC, which, if he were an independent, would be the correct group for him to have joined?

I am proud to be a Liberal Democrat, and no I do not believe in bringing party politics into local government per se. I do however believe that the electorate has a right to know if we are members of a political party.

Anne Frizell

Chairman, Richmond & District

Liberal Democrats,

Eastfield Avenue,

Richmond