A LEADING health campaigner has stood down following personal abuse from within his own political group.

Dr Clive Peedell made the decision to quit as leader when he felt the executive committee of the National Health Action Party (NHA) failed to take sufficient action to remedy his complaint.

The James Cook University Hospital consultant reported a fellow executive committee member for bringing the organisation into disrepute with his alleged abusive behaviour.

He explained his decision when he issued a public statement, saying : “Following my resignation from the National Health Action Party, I owe party members and NHA supporters in general, an explanation.

“As leader of the party, I had received a number of complaints about the Clive Peedell -   It's vital that as many doctors, nurses and healthcare workers as possible, joint the fight to defend our #NHS. Get involved or lose itbehaviour of an individual on the executive committee. I took the view that this individual was bringing the organisation into disrepute and believed that an immediate expulsion was necessary.

“The Executive Committee took the view that an investigation panel should be set up, but a temporary suspension was not issued. After suffering personal verbal abuse from the individual involved, I felt that I could no longer continue in post whilst the individual was still a member of the Executive committee.

“I do however believe that the committee will take this forward and the correct course of action will eventually be taken.

“I want to thank all supporters of the NHA Party for their brilliant support over the years. I will continue to fight for a publicly funded, provided and accountable NHS, and a fairer, more equitable society.”

Dr Peedell has been a critic of the Government’s decision to press ahead with their controversial plan to impose new contracts on doctors.

As a result of his decision, Dr Paul Hobday has been appointed interim leader of the NHA.

He was one of the original signatories to the letter, which prompted the creation of the party in 2012, and is well known as a local campaigner against NHS privatisation in Kent where he lives.

He said: “The NHA is sad that Dr Clive Peedell has resigned from his position as leader. Clive’s dedication to saving the NHS has inspired many people to join the fight. We know that Clive will always be an active NHS campaigner and I wish him well and am grateful to him for all he’s done in building this party.

“I look forward to working closely with fellow executive committee members such as Dr Louise Irvine and Dr Carl Walker to prepare us to go from strength to strength on these foundations.

“The NHA is committed to fight for the same policies and principles that the party was founded on.”

The political party was created in 2012 to try and combat the Government’s austerity measures that were impacting on the National Health Service. Members have campaigned against budget cuts and the scrapping of the bursary used to encourage people to take up nursing as a profession.

A new permanent leader will be elected in the autumn.