CAMPAIGNERS have praised the Neale inquiry for agreeing to look at documents submitted late.

Even though the documents have caused further delays, Graham Maloney, advisor to the Action and Support Group for Medical Victims of Richard Neale, congratulated inquiry officials.

He said: "This is one delay that we are pleased with."

Documents relating to allegations that the former gynaecologist at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, misled patients by using initials after his name to which he was not entitled and complaints about the alleged inadequacy of the police investigation into Neale have been accepted by inquiry officials.

The inquiry was ordered by former Health Secretary Alan Milburn to investigate the way the NHS handled large numbers of complaints made against the former head of maternity services at the Northallerton hospital.

In 2000, Neale was struck off the medical register after the General Medical Council found him guilty of 34 out of 35 specimen charges of serious professional misconduct.

Recently, the support group criticised the inquiry for the length of time it has taken.

Colin Phillips, inquiry secretary, said: "We have had to go back to the General Medical Council to look at another piece of information, and this week we had more information from the patient group. We have had to put that to Mr Neale in writing."

He added: "We are making good progress, we are almost there."

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.