THE story of how a wronged patient founded a protest group that stopped disgraced surgeon Richard Neale in his tracks is to be told on national radio.

Sheila Wright-Hogeland, from Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, is the first guest in a new series of the award-winning series Taking A Stand, on BBC Radio 4.

The programme, presented by Fergal Keane, will be broadcast to millions of listeners at 9am on January 13.

It will tell how Mrs Wright-Hogeland's condition was so mishandled by the former Friarage Hospital gynaecologist that she was left unable to have children.

But after reading about the increasing number of Northallerton patients complaining about Mr Neale, she helped set up an action group.

In the words of Fergal Keane: "Sheila realised she was not alone. Nearly 300 women came forward with appalling tales of suffering, some were left doubly incontinent."

Mr Neale, who was already suspended by medical authorities in Canada, was struck off by the UK General Medical Council in the summer of 2000.

However, Mrs Wright-Hogeland's battle to get to the truth behind the Neale scandal still goes on.

Last night, she told The Northern Echo: "I am very pleased that the BBC has decided to make this programme, which gives some recognition to our cause.

"However, I still feel there has been a cover-up and the guilty parties in this case have still not been named and shamed."

Mrs Wright-Hogeland decided to boycott the Department of Health's inquiry into the Neale scandal because of its narrow terms of reference and the decision to exclude the Press and public.

She said: "I think the inquiry has been a disgraceful waste of public money."

Inquiry officials have apologised for delays, which have meant that the panel's recommendations are unlikely to be published until some time next year.