VICTIMS of a disgraced former North-East surgeon Richard Neale have welcomed the Government's decision to carry out a major review of the way doctors are assessed.

Speaking after the final inquiry into serial killer Harold Shipman, Health Secretary John Reid said the review would help protect patients where a doctor poses a risk due to his or her conduct or performance.

The review chaired by Dame Janet Smith will also identify measures to modify the role, structure and functions of the General Medical Council.

This could potentially mean the body losing its powers to strike doctors off the medical register.

But members of the support group set up by victims of Neale want Dr Reid to act now to make the NHS a safer place for patients, rather than wait until the review is completed later this year.

Graham Maloney, advisor to the 300-strong group, said: "Three months ago, the Neale inquiry criticised the GMC, last month the judge in charge of the Shipman inquiry said the body has acted in the interests of doctors rather than patients. When is Dr Reid going to take action to make the health service safer?

"How many inquiries do we need?"

Women injured by the former surgeon at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, would only find "some sort of closure" when firm action was taken to clamp down on rogue doctors, he said.

Neale was allowed to continue operating on women in North Yorkshire despite the deaths of two of his patients in Canada.

Despite increasing numbers of complaints from patients, the GMC did not act until 2000 when the surgeon was struck off for botching operations.

A GMC spokeswoman said: "Dame Janet questioned whether the local procedures currently in place are working effectively, and whether they have the ability to provide the information required. We are pleased that Sir Liam's review will consider these important issues carefully."