BOSSES at the scandal-hit Northallerton Health Trust have accepted that the Richard Neale case has dented public confidence in its services.

The trust's annual report has been published just weeks after the gynaecologist was struck off by the General Medical Council for performing a catalogue of botched operations at The Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire

Writing in the report's foreword, chairman Johnny Wardle and chief executive Tony Bruce said the GMC investigation into the case "lowered public confidence in the trust and its services".

But they said: "We have welcomed the GMC's decision and will continue to work positively on today's priority of supporting women who have ongoing concerns about their care and health, and to reassure the public of the reliability of current services."

In their joint report, Mr Wardle and Mr Bruce said the last year had been one of "significant challenge and some public criticism, but also one of very positive achievement and progress".

They added: "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."