A consultant who was sacked from a North Yorkshire hospital over allegations that he had an affair with a woman patient has been reinstated.

But obstetrician and gynaecologist Neil Hebblethwaite has been given a final written warning and will be hauled before the professional conduct committee of the General Medical Council (GMC). Mr Hebblethwaite was dismissed from the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton in October after a complaint from a patient.

His firing came just two months after disgraced gynaecologist Richard Neale, who also practised at the hospital, was struck off by the GMC after being found guilty of 34 counts of serious professional misconduct. A statement put out yesterday by Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust said following the recommendations of an independent appeal panel, Mr Hebblethwaite's dismissal had been rescinded.

"The original findings of misconduct remain, and therefore he has been issued with a final written warning by the Trust," the statement said. The Community Health Council (CHC) welcomed the news.

Val Stangoe, chief officer, said: "There is a lot of support for Mr Hebblethwaite in the community.

He is generally regarded as a very good gynaecologist.

"We were very sad to hear the case against him. The CHC would be sorry to see such a good consultant lost to the NHS from an error of judgement.

"I would hope that in future things are different for him.

"I don't imagine he would repeat it."

The consultant will be suspended from work until the outcome of a GMC hearing.

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, April 10, 2001