THIS week an MP demanded the withdrawal of plans to axe more than a dozen beds for acutely ill psychiatric patients at Menston's High Royds Hospital.

Paul Truswell, Aireborough and Horsforth MP, is to press for a re-think when he meets local and regional NHS chiefs tomorrow, (Friday).

The proposed removal of 13 beds at High Royds - which has had its closure delayed until 2001 - is being considered by the Leeds Community and Mental Health Services' Teaching NHS Trust, which has a £12m deficit.

Mr Truswell said: "We believe there is no case whatsoever for closing any acute psychiatric beds at this time since existing bed provision is being stretched to breaking point.

"Until alternative services are available and are proving they meet the need, we want to see the existing service consolidated.

"Our aim is to clarify the current position, avert the closures and obtain breathing space to determine how we move forward.

"We also need to ensure services in Leeds address the shortcomings in community care services recently highlighted by health ministers.

"We will not do that by closing beds."

Mr Truswell called for the top level talks - which will involve representatives from the health trust, Leeds Health Authority and the Regional NHS Executive - on behalf of all eight Leeds MPs in a bid to prevent the bed cuts.

Mary Greenwood, coordinator of the patients campaign group Leeds Hospital Alert, welcomed news of the meeting.

She said: "These beds are for acutely ill under-65 psychiatric patients.

"Our concern is that they are already used beyond capacity and that the Leeds-based community services are not yet ready to replace them.

"We're very concerned that there are going to be too few acute beds and don't think a financial deficit should mean acute psychiatric patients should be put at risk."

Mrs Greenwood said she was delighted that the MPs were helping and supporting the fight and that the issue was being looked at so thoroughly.

A spokesman for the Trust said every effort was being made to tackle the deficit problem through reduced management costs and non-staff expenditure.

He added: "It must be recognised that these changes are taking place in the context of severe financial pressures upon the trust."

He said one of the steps under discussion was the transfer of the workload of two consultants from High Royds to the Roundhay Wing at St James's Hospital, which would involve a total of 13 beds.

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