Hospital trust braves protestors

Chief executive Tony Bruce told a crowded meeting that despite the adverse publicity surrounding the former Friarage surgeon Richard Neale the trust was delivering high quality health care to local people.

In the annual report the trust bosses acknowledged that the General Medical Council investigation into the former gynaecologist has lowered public confidence in the Northallerton Health Services Trust.

But they said they would continue to support the victims of Mr Neale - who was struck off two months ago after a string of botched operations on women - and work to reassure members of the public about the reliability of current services.

A joint statement from Chairman Brigadier Johnny Wardle and Mr Bruce declared: "Notwithstanding the genuine

and understandable public concern over the Mr Neale case, our patients today continue, overwhelmingly, to receive a service of which clinical standards, innovation and a genuinely caring approach are the hallmarks, evidenced by independent clinical indicators and patient surveys."

They thanked the 1,988 hospital staff for a successful year in which virtually all waiting list targets were met, extra operating facilities opened and a new community hospital was launched in Richmond.

While the trust recorded a deficit of £800,000 on an annual budget of £47m plans were in hand to rectify the situation.

A large part of the meeting was given over to questions from the floor and this was dominated by members of the support group set up by victims of Mr Neale.

Speakers complained that letters and faxes had not been acknowledged and some staff had been unhelpful.

The trust was also criticised for not writing to all former patients of Mr Neale and setting up a help-line when the scandal became pubic in 1998.

Bosses plan to meet group representatives next week to discuss the way forward.

Read the background to the Richard Neale case here.