THE family of jailed psychiatrist Michael Haslam today vowed to fight to clear his name.

The 69-year-old retired York consultant was imprisoned for seven years yesterday for raping and indecently assaulting a former patient, and for three indecent assaults on two other ex-patients. All the offences happened at hospitals in York in the 1980s.

Haslam, of Crayke, near Easingwold, was warned he would serve at least half the sentence, but his counsel, Tom Bayliss QC, indicated that an appeal will be lodged against the convictions.

Now his son, Michael, has contacted the Evening Press to issue a brief statement on behalf of the family, saying: "In our opinion, Dr Haslam is not guilty of the offences of which he has been convicted.

"We will fight on to clear his name." He declined to comment further at this stage.

Meanwhile, up to 20 former patients of Haslam have already come forward to raise concerns about the retired Clifton Hospital consultant to an NHS inquiry.

Inquiry bosses have urged anyone else with "issues of concern" to get in touch.

The inquiry was set up in 2001 to examine the way the NHS handled complaints against Haslam and another retired York psychiatrist, William Kerr, of Alne, near Easingwold, who was found at a hearing-of-fact in 2000 to have indecently assaulted a former patient. Kerr was unfit to stand trial.

The NHS inquiry was largely put on hold after Haslam was arrested last year, in case it unfairly influenced his trial, but it is now set to resume in the New Year.

Inquiry secretary Colin Phillips said about 20 former Haslam patients, and about 60 former Kerr patients, had already come forward to raise a range of issues.

The inquiry intended writing to them and other potential witnesses, such as health professionals, to inform them that the trial was over and oral hearings could now be held.

He said any other former patients who wished to raise matters of concern should write to: Kerr/Haslam Inquiry Secretary, Colin Phillips, 6th Floor, Hannibal House, Elephant and Castle, London, SE1 6TE.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, December 17, 2003