CAMPAIGNERS who battled to get Richard Neale suspended and ultimately struck off want to know why none of the gynaecologist's colleagues blew the whistle on him.

During a ten-year career at The Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton. the consultant caused pain and agony to many women patients yet no one shopped the rogue surgeon to the General Medical Council.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, a victim of Richard Neale and the leader of the patient campaign group, said: "It was a cover-up - a conspiracy of silence."

Officially, the British medical profession is in favour of whistle-blowing - but Neale was allowed to injure many women without anyone raising the alarm.

Twenty-nine women died in his care. Three of them are being investigated by North Yorkshire police with a view to possible criminal charges being brought.

A total of 60 women have complained about Neale to The Friarage Hospital management.

Yet, the group representing the victims of Neale claim that managers at The Friarage prevented doctors, nurses or other staff from raising the alarm, by warning them not to speak out.

Complaints and legal action against the surgeon began as early as 1985.

However, none of his colleagues appear to have reported him to the General Medical Council for performing operations without consent.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, one of his victims, said: "People do not expect to be maimed or to have major complications when they go in for something as routine as a hysterectomy or a bladder repair. Why didn't his colleagues simply shop him?"

"We have many cases where Neale's colleagues had to clear up the most horrendous messes, but no-one came forward. I think it is disgraceful," said Mrs Wright-Hoge-land. "There is an old boy's network: 'If we are attacked, let's close ranks'."

Graham Maloney, of Yarm, a health campaigner who is treasurer of the victim support group, said: "The GMC is at fault over Neale but the medical profession is also at fault. It should be an offence if one of your colleagues is under-performing and you don't report it - doctors owe it to patients."

A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association said: "We always try to encourage whistle-blowing. In fact, it is a General Medical Council requirement to speak out about an under-performing colleague."

The duty on doctors to raise the alarm about colleagues was made more explicit in the most recent edition of the GMC's rules and regulations for doctors.

"Whistle-blowers should always be protected. If they are not listened to within a hospital, they have a duty to tell the GMC about it," she said.

A spokesman for The Friarage said the trust would be making a statement about the Neale case after a decision had been taken about the former consultant's future.