CAMPAIGNERS have called for a tightening up of procedures to protect patients abroad from surgeons struck off in the UK.

The Northern Echo can reveal that several prominent medical licensing authorities remain unaware of Richard Neale's record while he worked in this country.

The General Medical Council (GMC) has notified more than 40 countries via an "erasure circular" that Mr Neale has been struck off in this country.

But many more have yet to learn of last summer's decision.

These include Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Cyprus and further afield, Brazil and Mexico.

The GMC says international medical licensing authorities are only notified when a doctor is struck off if they have previously requested such information.

It also admits that there are no agreements in place to automatically prevent registered doctors struck off in the UK from applying to work in foreign countries.

Graham Maloney, an advisor to the group set up to support victims of Richard Neale, said: "We feel it is clear already that international procedures on the sharing of information and the licensing of doctors are so flimsy and need to be strengthened.

"The medical profession and the governing bodies in each and every country need to get together and protect patients."

Mr Maloney said an international database should be set up containing doctors' details and an ID card issued to them where possible.

Jo Tupper, a spokeswoman for the GMC, said it had no powers to stop a struck-off doctor from applying for work abroad.

She said: "Our role is to be a regulatory body for all doctors in the UK. Aside from that, a list of doctors that we have erased is published and goes to health organisations that have requested it both at home and abroad.

"It does not go to every single country and we cannot possibly go round contacting those that don't receive it.

"For those that do, it is up to them what they do with the information as each country has its own rules and regulations."

The Northern Echo put a number of questions to the Medical Protection Society, which represents Mr Neale, about his current circumstances.

A spokesman said it did not comment on "members' personal matters" and was unable to confirm or deny that the surgeon was looking for work abroad.

Mr Neale, who was struck off in Canada but was still allowed to work in the UK, was unavailable for comment when contacted at his home in Langthorpe, near Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire.

Neighbours said they knew little or anything about Mr Neale's whereabouts.

Joseph Flynn, landlord of the Fox and Hounds pub in the village, said: "He does not have anything to do with us and I have never seen him in the pub in three-and-a-half years."