THREATENED cuts at High Royds Hospital in Menston have led Leeds MPs to demand top level talks with health chiefs.

High Royds' managers, the Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Trust (CMHT), are considering a reduction in the number of beds at the hospital and the potential withdrawal of some support given to the voluntary sector.

The trust said it is having to make the cuts because it faces a £2.35 million deficit in the current financial year.

But MP for Aireborough and Pudsey, Paul Truswell, said the situation at High Royds is already at crisis point.

Speaking on behalf of Leeds MPs, Mr Truswell said: "We understand the greater part of the trust's deficit relates to the planned closure of High Royds Hospital.

"There is a disagreement between the trust and the Regional NHS Executive about how delays in closing the hospital have affected it's financial position."

Mr Truswell added: "We understand that the acute psychiatric beds at High Royds are already used beyond their theoretical capacity and, given that, we cannot accept the case for closing beds until equivalent alternative services are available."

He said MPs were also concerned that the funding the CMHT receives from Leeds Health Authority means its spending per head of population on mental health is lower than other major cities.

They recently met with the trust's chief executive, John Oldham, to discuss its deficit and have made their concerns known to health secretary, Frank Dobson, and to the chairman of the executive, Zahida Manzoor.

Mr Truswell said: "The meeting we have called for would be a frank discussion about the exact nature of the problem, possible ways of staving off the cuts and significantly improving services for the future."

A spokesman for the CMHT said it was forecast that the trust would make a £2.35m deficit during the current financial year.

He said a detailed cost improvement programme had been devised and the trust was closely reviewing all its expenditure on non-clinical services.

"As a result more than £0.5 million per annum will be saved through reductions in management costs. Recently 14 senior and middle managers in the trust have been made redundant," he said.

Mr Truswell said the trust was working closely with Leeds Health Authority and the executive in working a way out of the financial situation which involved a package of measures which, if implemented, would help towards the cost improvement programme.

"The range of measures include a possible reduction in the number of beds at High Royds Hospital and potential withdrawal of some support currently provided to the voluntary sector.

"However, this is currently under review given the recognition of the existing pressures upon mental health services in the city."

He added that the trust was taking steps to make sure that if implemented the effects on clinical services would be minimised.

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