CAMPAIGNERS want to know why regional health bosses tried to help Richard Neale get his medical licence back in Canada - even though he had already begun botching operations in the UK.

Neale - who was finally struck off in Britain a month ago after a sustained campaign by his victims - returned to the UK from Canada in 1984 ahead of disciplinary action.

He got a job as a surgeon at The Friarage Hospital, Northalleton, in 1985, a few months before he was struck off by the Canadian authorities.

Although Yorkshire Regional Health Authority found out in 1986, no action was taken.

A year later, the same authority gave the gynaecologist a reference to take back to Canada stating that his service had been "entirely satisfactory".

This was despite the fact that a number of patients had already complained to The Friarage about operations that had gone wrong.

The surgeon's application for a new licence was unanimously rejected by the Canadians, but Neale was subsequently promoted to become head of the Friarage's maternity unit in 1991.

Neale was struck off in Canada after a pregnant patient died when he tried to induce birth with an unauthorised combination of drugs.

The latest controversy echoes concerns over the favourable reference The Friarage gave to Neale in 1995, as part of a deal to persuade him to leave.

Campaigners, who are pressing for a public inquiry into the Neale affair, say at least one member of their group complained of blunders by Neale as early as 1977 - before he even went to Canada. Complaints to The Friarage about Neale began in 1985 and have now reached an official total of 60.

Now the campaigners want to know why the authority did not sack the gynaecologist when the Canadian authorities rejected his application on the basis of "deep-seated attitudinal and judgemental problems".

Graham Maloney, spokesman for the ex-patients group, said: "There are so many questions that need answering about this whole business that there has got to be an independent inquiry."

A spokesman for the Northern and Yorkshire NHS Executive said: "Yorkshire Regional Health Authority no longer exists, and unfortunately it is unclear how this reference came to be provided."