FORMER patients have staged a march and demonstration against the decision to hold an inquiry into disgraced North Yorkshire surgeon Richard Neale in private.

The demonstration took place in Northallerton, where the disgraced surgeon worked at the town's Friarage Hospital, just as the inquiry team was inviting former patients to its first meeting in York.

More than 30 ex-patients and supporters joined the march from the Golden Lion hotel to the entrance to the hospital.

Many held placards carrying messages such as "We won't accept your whitewash of Neale scandal, Mr Milburn," and "When will we find out the truth?"

They bitterly criticised Health Secretary Alan Milburn's decision not to hold a public inquiry, and also the "limited" terms of reference of the inquiry, under which it is being asked to examine how the NHS handled complaints against the consultant, who was struck off in 2000 for botching a series of operations.

Ex-patients said they feared the inquiry would be a "whitewash". Maria Fothergill, 50, of Thirsk, said: "It's an absolute disgrace. I would like to have seen a public inquiry."

Brenda Sanders, 66, of Dalton near Thirsk, who carried a placard proclaiming "The big cover-up," said: "I am very angry. It's absolutely disgusting. I am boycotting it."

But a spokesman for the inquiry said there had been a "good turn-out" of former patients at the preliminary inquiry meeting, held yesterday at the Hilton Hotel, in York.

He said some had expressed relief that they would be able to present confidential information without fear of it being reported.

He said the inquiry hoped to encourage more patients to come forward to give evidence, and it was planned to hold another preliminary meeting in Northallerton, where many patients were from, possibly on January 14.

The demands for the inquiry to be held in public had been taken to the High Court and a judge had decided against them. "It isn't in our hands," the spokesman said.

But he stressed that the inquiry team was determined it would be a full and comprehensive investigation, with the findings and recommendations made fully public.

Updated: 11:50 Friday, December 06, 2002