FORMER patients of disgraced surgeon Richard Neale are furious at a call by a former mayor of Northallerton to abandon their boycott of an inquiry into complaints about his conduct.

John Bacon, who was mayor in 1983, had backed the patients' campaign for a full public inquiry but last week said the snub was counter-productive.

The independent inquiry was set up to investigate how the NHS dealt with complaints against the consultant who was struck off for misconduct in his job at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital.

But it is being held behind closed doors, which has angered the Action and Support Group for Medical Victims of Richard Neale. The group, which has 257 members, has shown its distrust by boycotting the inquiry.

Inquiry chairman Suzanne Matthews invited former patients to give their views to the panel, but only seven former patients - a fraction of those affected - were scheduled to meet inquiry officials in Northallerton last week.

Mr Bacon made his own submission to the inquiry and welcomed news that the Health and Safety Executive has expressed its willingness to make a submission about the potential use of safety legislation in medical negligence cases.

While Mr Bacon felt the patients had won the 'intellectual argument' about the status of the inquiry, he encouraged former patients and colleagues of Mr Neale to come forward.

He said: "I hope the patient group will see the wisdom of encouraging people to come forward. Boycotting the inquiry would serve no-one's interest. Lessons have to be learned and we should allow Mrs Matthews a chance to do her job."

At the weekend, Graham Maloney from the patients' support group said 18 women had contacted him to express their anger at Mr Bacon's comments. Another six had contacted the group's chairwoman, Sheila Wright-Hogeland.

She said: "I wonder why he feels qualified to make these remarks when, to my knowledge, he has not met a single group member.

"I don't understand the basis of his meeting with the inquiry chairman. His involvement in the case has been zero."

Mr Maloney added: "The anger of the victims ringing up has been immense. What they are saying is 'all we want is a robust and full inquiry.'"

The Neale inquiry helpline is 0207 972 2400.

Read more about the Richard Neale scandal here.