THE long-awaited inquiry involving disgraced North Yorkshire gynaecologist Richard Neale will start next month in York.

Hearings will take place at the Hilton Hotel, near Clifford's Tower, and continue on about 20 days throughout May and June.

The inquiry will look into the way the NHS handled complaints against the consultant, who worked at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital from 1985 to 1995, and was struck off in 2000 for serious professional misconduct, including botching a series of operations.

It is intended to see if any lessons can be learnt to benefit the NHS in future.

An inquiry spokesman said Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Liam Donaldson had been asked to give evidence, but his response was not yet known.

The inquiry chairwoman, Suzan Matthews QC, has said she was determined to make it a "rigorous and comprehensive" investigation, which would protect patients from other poorly-performing doctors.

It will look at why favourable references were given to Neale, who lives at Langthorpe, Boroughbridge, and examine how his employment was terminated.

Mrs Matthews hoped it would enable poorly performing doctors to be identified earlier.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who ordered the inquiry, decided it should be held behind closed doors - although the eventual report will be made fully public.

Updated: 11:10 Monday, April 14, 2003