Angry bosses at High Royds Hospital have demanded a public apology after they received stinging criticism from a Leeds health chief.

Robert Cooper, finance chief at Leeds Health Authority, says in the Health Service Journal there is a lack of financial control by management at Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust who run the much-criticised Menston hospital.

The magazine, read across the NHS, quotes him claiming the Trust is using the withdrawal two years ago of millions of pounds of extra funding to keep open expensive buildings at High Royds as a 'very convenient cloud'.

He goes on to say: "I can understand why that keeps being used - no manager really wants to say, 'We cocked up'."

He goes on to say he has made it his personal responsibility to make sure the recovery plan to reduce a deficit run up by the Trust works, but reveals little confidence in the management there. "I'd rather not let this crew stand on their own," he says.

Peter McGinnis, director of nursing and quality at the community trust, said it came out of the blue.

"We were surprised and then extremely upset by the tone and content of the comments which don't help," he said. "We have all been working together because we are all responsible but this sets a very different scene.

"We are hoping it's just a one-off, very silly comment. "We would expect him to withdraw that statement and give some sort of public apology because it is quite damaging."

Mike Ramsden, director of corporate affairs at Leeds Health Authority, said the remarks had been taken out of context and it had been taken up with the magazine.

"It was a very long discussion with the journalist, it covered the full range of issues and the future of mental health services and we think it does not properly represent what was said," he said.

"There is an on-going dialogue with the Trust about the deficit and we are working in partnership with them to take that action plan forward."

A review has been ordered into mental health services in Leeds by the Government after a group of consultants revealed a growing crisis due to understaffing and cramped conditions had led to outbreaks of violence.

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