A GRATEFUL family, who say a sacked surgeon's skills saved their little girl, have made a powerful appeal in support of his attempt to get his job back.

Consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician Neil Hebblethwaite was dismissed by the Friarage Hospital and referred to the General Medical Council last month for having an affair with a woman patient.

Despite his good record as a surgeon, the Northallerton trust said at the time that dismissal was "the only appropriate response" to the serious allegations made against him.

Spurred on by the news that Mr Hebblethwaite has appealed against his dismissal, Hugh and Louise Morgan Williams of Cowesby, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, have called for the trust to give the highly regarded surgeon another chance.

"We have a healthy daughter who has a loving mother. Without his care and attention, the situation might have been very different," the couple said.

While they do not condone the consultant's behaviour they consider his dismissal as an over-reaction to the publicity surrounding the former Friarage surgeon Richard Neale who was struck off this summer for botching operations.

Their fourth child, Keira, was born at The Friarage Hospital on March 25, 1998, at mid-day after a difficult 30-hour labour.

"We can safely say that without Mr Hebblethwaite's skill, care and attention we doubt that the child or her mother would have come through the ordeal without serious injury or worse," said Mrs Morgan Williams, an NHS speech therapist.

The couple said the loss of Mr Hebblethwaite would deprive the area of a "talented, conscientious, and extremely hard-working medical professional, who inspires the medical staff who work with him."

But Graham Maloney, spokesman for the group set up by victims of Richard Neale, warned that the Friarage would be making a mistake if they reinstated Mr Hebblethwaite.

"He behaved in a totally unacceptable way for a consultant. It is not right that the Friarage should be considering employing a consultant who broke so many rules. The fact that the case has been referred to the General Medical Council is an indication that there is evidence that needs investigating."

A spokesman for the Friarage said: "At the time of his dismissal we stated that he was a good consultant and we continue to believe that to be true. However, the decision to sack him did not relate to his treatment of patients in general."

The spokesman said the trust was keeping a log of correspondence about Mr Hebblethwaite - including a letter of support signed by 32 hospital staff - which would be available to the appeal panel, which will hear his case within the next three months