DOZENS of Richard Neale's former patients from North Yorkshire were in London today to see the gynaecologist face allegations of serious professional misconduct.

The consultant, who lives near Boroughbridge, appeared before a General Medical Council disciplinary panel, accused of poor standards of treatment, treating patients without consent and making false claims about his qualifications and experience.

Mr Neale was allowed to work at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, after being struck off in Canada over the death of a patient in the 1980s. He left the Friarage because of "concerns about the extent of his commitment", but received £100,000 severance pay and a good reference before going on to work in Leicester, London and the Isle of Wight.

The case will re-ignite the debate over incompetent doctors, coming just a week after a damning report into disgraced gynaecologist Rodney Ledward.

Around 40 women from across North Yorkshire travelled by coach down to the capital from Northallerton yesterday.

They planned to stand on the steps of the GMC to greet Mr Neale, whom they described as "bombastic and flash", and were looking forward to seeing justice being done.

"We're going to have a good time," said one.

Maureen Sanders, 54, from Great Ayton, said she had been waiting for Neale to perform her fourth operation when news of his past emerged.

She claimed she had expressed her concerns to the hospital but was assured he was the best.

Another former patient, Marcina Birkett, who now lives at Hemingbrough, near Selby, was travelling by train down to the hearing.

She said she had had two major operations and a number of minor corrective procedures after being operated on by Neale at the Friarage Hospital in 1987. She had lodged a complaint but would not be one of 14 women giving evidence at the hearing against the surgeon.

Mr Neale, 52, is being sued by 60 women for allegedly performing unnecessary surgery that left them in agony and some with organ damage and unable to have children.

North Yorkshire police are investigating claims that Mr Neale falsified his qualifications to work in this country.

When a date was set for the hearing, Mr Neale issued a statement saying: "I continue to regret those instances in which any of my patients suffered post-operative complications but I have always maintained this: that I am both a competent and caring surgeon.

"The allegations that have been made against me have been extremely distressing and the many months in which I have not worked as a doctor have been traumatic for me and my family.

"I hope the GMC hearing will bring this matter to a conclusion."

The Medical Protection Society, which is representing Mr Neale, today issued a statement by its medico-legal adviser, Dr Iain Barclay, saying: "Mr Neale is ready to accept any justifiable criticism of his work and he does not seek to minimise the seriousness of the charges that he faces.

"As his career in medicine goes on the line in the full glare of the media spotlight, he feels that the hearing at the General Medical Council will provide the opportunity for his clinical record to be fairly and accurately assessed.

"Before the GMC starts, Mr Neale would like to apologise once more and say how sorry he is to those of his patients who suffered post-operative complications.

"He always has been - and continues to be deeply regretful for this."

PICTURE: Sheila Wright-Hogeland and Graham Maloney make their point point before boarding the coach in in Northallerton to take them to the General Medical Council hearing today Picture: Mike Tipping