HEALTH bosses in St Helens are to offer counselling and support to patients affected by the trial of Dr Roy Murray, the former local GP convicted of indecently assaulting 23 women patients.

After a nine-week trial, a jury at Liverpool Crown Court found Murray guilty of sexually molesting patients at his Liverpool Road surgery, Greenbank, St Helens during a 17-year period that spanned from 1981 to 1998. He will be sentenced on Friday, September 17.

The 62-year-old was cleared of two offences and the jury was unable to agree verdicts on five further charges.

Following the verdicts, a St Helens Primary Care Trust statement read: "It is important that we take this opportunity to thank those women who came forward and commend the bravery of those who went on to give evidence in open court, this must have been a very traumatic experience and we are sincerely grateful to every single one of them."

Confidential

Counselling and support to those directly affected by the trial is being offered by police, but the PCT has also moved to set up a confidential support line this week.

The Trust's statement added: "This service will allow those who have been affected by these proceedings either directly or indirectly to talk to trained members of staff who will be able to refer their calls on to professional counsellors should this be requested."

A 38-year-old woman who Murray was convicted of assaulting said of the verdict: "I'm ecstatic and relieved. It was the right verdict in 23 of the cases. He was allowed to get way with it for far too long."

Liverpool Crown Court heard claims that Murray carried out internal and breast examinations that often seemed unnecessary, such as when patients visited him with complaints like earache or coughs. The court heard that instead of lasting only a few minutes internal examinations took up to 40 minutes.

Murray, of Bromborough, Wirral, strenuously denied the allegations, and was cleared of seven charges of indecent assault at the end of the prosecution case.

Complaints

He called more than 20 patients who praised him as a doctor and was in the witness box himself for a week.

A police investigation into the doctor began two years ago after a woman patient confided in a counsellor.

More complaints followed and the St Helens and Knowsley Primary Care Trust set up a helpline that other victims could contact.

St Helens PCT stressed it was first made aware of allegations against Dr Murray in August 2002, and immediately referred them to Merseyside Police.

The PCT moved to reassure patients about the standards of healthcare, by stressing: "The vast majority of healthcare professionals in this country are hard working, committed individuals whose primary concern is to care for their patients.

"We have confidence the procedures/protocols we have in place offer the highest level of protection to patients. All of our staff be they GPs, nurses or health visitors operate within the very strictest codes of conduct and the policies and procedures of the PCT support these.

"St Helens PCT shares with its patients the disappointment and loss of trust caused by the criminal offences now proven against Dr Murray and once again we thank all those witnesses who came forward and acted so bravely in the public interest."

l Those in need of help and support are urged to contact the support line on 01744 457363.