CAMPAIGNERS who still believe the disgraced surgeon, Richard Neale, should have been prosecuted are to meet senior police officers.

It may be the last opportunity for North Yorkshire police to stave off an official complaint about the two-year investigation which came to nothing.

In a separate development, Health Minister John Hutton has turned down a request from former Tory leader, William Hague, that the independent inquiry into the scandal should be opened up to private as well as NHS patients.

Mr Hutton has reiterated that the inquiry's purpose is to consider the way the NHS handled complaints about Mr Neale.

Graham Maloney, advisor to the group formed by victims of Mr Neale, said the ruling was totally unacceptable as the group included private and NHS patients. It could mean that the group's co-founder, Sheila Wright-Hogeland from Kirkbymoorside, would be barred from giving evidence.

"We will pursue this matter with the chairman of the inquiry," he said.

Mr Maloney and Mrs Wright-Hogeland are due to attend a two-hour meeting on October 14 with the Deputy Chief Constable, Peter Walker.