CAMPAIGNERS have renewed their calls for the General Medical Council (GMC) to be replaced after criticism in the Richard Neale inquiry report.

While victims of the former North Yorkshire surgeon are pleased with the report , which highlights the failings of senior NHS officials, they believe the GMC should now come under scrutiny.

The group, which is planning to hold a meeting of all its 300 members to discuss the report, have pledged to continue their fight to ensure patients are adequately protected.

They are being backed by North-East MPs, including Dari Taylor, Frank Cook and William Hague.

They are angry that a blunder by the GMC, which regulates UK doctors, allowed the disgraced surgeon to continue to operate on women at the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, even though he had been struck off in Canada.

Details of the mistake were leaked in April and confirmed in Wednesday's report.

The GMC has admitted it had the opportunity to take action against Neale in 1988, but failed to do so because of an administrative error.

Neale worked at The Friarage Hospital between 1985 and 1995.

A campaign by victims of Neale, headed by former patient Sheila Wright-Hogeland from near Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, resulted in him being struck off in 2000 after botching a string of operations.

Graham Maloney, advisor to the patient group, said: "For the GMC not to be investigated is unbelievable."

Mr Maloney said the group believed that the main recommendation made by the inquiry panel - that the Health Secretary should consider setting up a new body, or expand the power of an existing body, to oversee the employment of doctors - was an indirect criticism of the GMC.

"The panel was fed up with all the agencies passing the buck," said Mr Maloney.

A spokeswoman for the GMC said: "The GMC is not involved in employment issues."

She stressed that the GMC is currently undergoing "a major period of reform". From April next year, doctors will have to undergo periodic revalidation to demonstrate that they are fit to practice.

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.