DISGRACED gynaecologist Richard Neale gave evidence last week at a private inquiry into the way the NHS handled complaints made against him.

Neale spent the day giving evidence to a panel of three people, in the final part of the inquiry.

"He has expanded on his written statement and explained anything that needed further clarification," said inquiry secretary Colin Phillips.

The panel will now consider the evidence, including that of Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government's chief medical officer, and after that, there will be an expert inquiry in which the panel will take some areas of evidence and ask experts to expand on them.

The inquiry was ordered by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn to investigate the way complaints were handled while Neale worked at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, from 1985 to 1995 and at other UK hospitals.

Neale was struck off in 2000 by the General Medical Council.