A FORMER medical director who gave shamed surgeon Richard Neale a "glowing" reference is being questioned by medical authorities.

The Northern Echo has learned that Dr Michael Saunders, who was medical director of The Friarage Hospital at the time of the Neale scandal, has been asked by the General Medical Council to explain his actions.

Dr Saunders, who is also a Church of England curate, was at the hospital, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, in 1995 when the trust board agreed to a controversial severance package for Mr Neale.

The consultant gynaecologist had just been suspended by the hospital and the board decided that he had to go.

Rather than sack Mr Neale and get involved in a costly legal battle, the Northallerton Trust agreed to pay the suspended surgeon off and give him a good reference.

The GMC confirmed earlier this week that any doctor signing a misleading job reference could potentially face action.

A spokesman said: "We have already begun to look carefully at the circumstances of this case and, in particular, at any allegation that Mr Neale was provided with a reference which may not have reported fully concerns which were held about his practice."

Mr Neale obtained a job at the Leicester Royal Infirmary on the strength of a reference signed by Dr Saunders.

But the letter failed to mention the fact that Mr Neale had been struck off in Canada, had been cautioned by the police after he was arrested in a public lavatory in Richmond, and had been suspended by the Friarage.

Campaigners who are calling for a public inquiry into the Neale affair welcomed yesterday's move.

"This new development underlines that there has got to be a public inquiry into the Friarage Hospital," said Graham Maloney, a spokesman for a support group for the victims of Mr Neale.

The reference was part of a much-criticised package which involved paying the surgeon £100,000 and buying his private consulting rooms in Northallerton for £57,000.

Within a few months, Mr Neale's new employers decided to terminate his contract after hearing of concerns about his performance.

When the Leicester hospital's medical director Nick Naftalin discovered the truth about Mr Neale, through the media, he telephoned Dr Saunders and expressed his "extreme dissatisfaction".

Mr Neale was struck off the medical register eleven days ago after 34 out of 35 allegations against him were found proven. It followed evidence of botched surgery and operating without consent.

Dr Saunders, who is curate of Great and Little Ouseburn, near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, declined to comment.