THE WOMEN victims of disgraced gynaecologist Mr Richard Neale have called for the Northallerton NHS Trust board to resign.

Campaigners made up of more than 100 women patients of the 52-year-old consultant have also called for an inquiry.

Richmond MP Mr William Hague has backed the group's calls for a public enquiry into the Friarage hospital's handling of the case.

Mr Hague also said he would be writing to his constituents and other parties concerned to seek their views on the way the matter was dealt with.

Mr Neale was struck off the medical register on Tuesday for serious professional misconduct, after 34 out of 35 allegations against him were found proved by the General Medical Council.

The women have hit out at the Trust managment for backing Mr Neale after discovering he had been struck off in Canada following the death of a patient.

A spokesman for the group ,Mr Graham Maloney, said: "There should be an apology to the people involved and the hospital should pay the ladies some gratuity so they can get on with their lives."

This week Mr Tony Bruce, chief executive of Northallerton Health Services Trust which runs the hospital, welcomed the decision to have Mr Neale struck off.

He said the hospital had been working positively to support the women who have suffered and would continue to do so.

He added: "Our immediate priority over the next few weeks will be to ensure that those who have concerns are properly supported and that we begin to rebuild public confidence in the service."

Mr Maloney said: "Public confidence does needs to be restored and that can only be if Tony Bruce and the rest of the team are removed from the hospital. They should do the honourable thing and resign."

Richard Neale worked at the Friarage hospital for ten years between 1985 and 1995. He was first employed by the now defunct Yorkshire Regional Health Authority. The Northallerton NHS Trust inherited his contract when it took over the Friarage.

l A question of trust: page 20.

l Millennium appeal latest: page 10.