BOSSES at Northallerton's beleaguered Friarage Hospital braved protestors at the NHS trust's annual meeting and stressed the achievements of the last year.

Tony Bruce, chief executive of the Northallerton Health Services Trust, told a crowded meeting that, despite adverse publicity surrounding former Friarage surgeon Richard Neale, the trust was delivering high quality health care to local people.

In the annual report, the trust bosses acknowledged that the General Medical Council investigation into the former gynaecologist had lowered public confidence in the trust.

But they said they would continue to support the victims of Mr Neale - who was struck off two months ago after a string of botched operations on women - and work to reassure members of the public about the reliability of services.

A joint statement from the chairman, Brigadier Johnny Wardle, and Mr Bruce, said: "Notwithstanding the genuine and understandable public concern over the Mr Neale case, our patients today continue, overwhelmingly, to receive a service of which clinical standards, innovation and a genuinely caring approach are the hallmarks, evidenced by independent clinical indicators and patient surveys."

They thanked the 1,988 hospital staff for a successful year in which virtually all waiting list targets were met, extra operating facilities opened and a new community hospital launched in Richmond.

While the trust recorded a deficit of £800,000 on an annual budget of £47m, plans were in hand to rectify the situation.

A large part of the meeting was given over to questions from the floor and this was dominated by members of the support group set up by victims of Mr Neale.

Speakers complained that letters and faxes had not been acknowledged and some staff had been unhelpful.

The trust was also criticised for not writing to all former patients of Mr Neale and for not setting up a helpline when the scandal became public in 1998.

Bosses plan to meet group representatives next week to discuss the way forward.