FORMER Tory leader William Hague last night demanded a public inquiry into the "uniquely chilling" Richard Neale scandal during a Commons debate.

The Richmond MP called for answers as to how the disgraced gynaecologist was able to practise in North Yorkshire, despite being struck off in Canada.

During an adjournment debate, he praised The Northern Echo for campaigning on behalf of Mr Neale's victims, and for exposing a leaked internal NHS memorandum which which sought to limit the scope of the official inquiry into the affair.

However, Junior Health Minister Yvette Cooper defended the current official investigation.

Ms Cooper told Mr Hague that the NHS had badly let down Mr Neale's victims, and promised that new measures would help prevent failures happening again.

Mr Neale, who practised at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, for ten years, was eventually struck off the UK medical register in 2000 after a two-year campaign by his victims.

The General Medical Council's professional conduct committee found 34 out of 35 allegations of malpractice proven - including a string of botched operations by Mr Neale.

Mr Hague told MPs: "This is a bizarre, tragic, deeply disturbing and utterly scandalous affair.

"It is an embarrassment for the Department of Health. It is a personal and family tragedy for many patients who became victims, and for this House it is a vital matter that must be addressed so that such events cannot happen again."

Mr Hague said the department's announcement last July of an investigation was "not adequate".

He added: "This is a uniquely chilling case, in which not only was serious harm done to unsuspecting patients, but one in which warnings were given to some people, somewhere in the health establishment - and yet nothing was done."

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