A CONSULTANT who has been investigated and cleared of wrongdoing on two occasions will return to work for Northallerton Health Services NHS Trust on Monday.

Neil Hebblethwaite, consultant gynaecologist, is initially returning to work at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Mr Hebblethwaite was reinstated to his post as an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton last April, after being dismissed in October 2000 over allegations that he had an affair with a woman patient.

He was instead given a final written warning and was taken before the professional conduct committee of the General Medical Council (GMC) at the end of last year.

He was also subject to a second investigation in April 2001 after it came to light that Mr Hebblethwaite had worked as a locum at Halifax General Infirmary and a hospital in Warwick.

At the time, trust chief executive Bruce Skilbeck said the inquiry was to establish whether Mr Hebblethwaite had been paid for the locum work while he was still on full pay pending an appeal against his dismissal.

These proceedings were dropped after it emerged that the consultant had not been paid for the work.

But Mr Hebblethwaite remained suspended pending the GMC hearing into the first set of allegations.

Mr Skilbeck said: "The organisation is pleased that the disciplinary issues relating to Mr Hebblethwaite have been resolved and that he is now able to resume service with the trust."

Updated: 10:29 Thursday, January 10, 2002