ANGRY residents and hospital staff attacked health trust managers for failing to communicate over the closure of a ward at a public meeting called by Otley MP Greg Mulholland on Monday.

They also asked for reassurances over the future of Wharfedale Hospital and urged that no more services would be lost.

Otley Civic Centre was packed and many people shared personal experiences, including some who spoke of patients who had wanted desperately to convalesce at Otley, but had been denied the chance.

Brian Godfrey, director of clinical support services and small hospitals for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, admitted that a strategy needed to be put into place for Wharfedale Hospital.

He also promised that there would be no change to current services without prior consultation and agreement of the Wharfedale Hospital Forum.

Mr Godfrey said: "I do feel that we have suffered without a strategy for the hospital and a proper way forward, but I would like to assure you it does feature very highly in our hospital plans."

He said that plans outlining the future of the hospital would be presented to the Leeds Primary Care Trust in April.

His concerns were shared by Carol Cochrane of the Leeds Primary Care Trust who called for co-operation with the trust to formulate a strategy for the hospital.

Mr Godfrey and his trust colleague, Douglas Kane, head of medical services, faced strong criticism by Otley's MP and representatives of patient and hospital staff groups as well as the Leeds Primary Care Trust.

Mr Mulholland demanded that the trust explained why ward one had to close, why it was closed in the way it was and what was the future of other services at the hospital.

"We still do not have a vision or strategy for what is a magnificent facility and the sad truth is that the trust has lost the confidence of the people of Otley, which they have largely brought on themselves." he said.

The trust also came under fire from residents, hospital workers, GPs and relatives and friends of patients at the hospital.

Otley GP Dr Pauline Spencer said she disagreed that ward one - one of two elderly acute wards - had closed only when all patients were ready to leave.

"I do know that people were put under pressure to leave ward one and I know at least one person who has since died. To say people were not under pressure to leave is simply not true.

"I would like to know what plans there are for surgery and we've had rumours about pharmacy and medical cover.

"All of this is an appalling diminution of what used to be a fabulous hospital," she said.

A second Otley GP, now retired, added: "We had a most wonderful general hospital. It was the best in the country and it has been greatly destroyed."

One resident said he had a 90-year-old friend who had expected to recover at Wharfedale following an operation at Cookridge Hospital.

"He was told he would have to go home because there was a fair chance that he would get MRSA. He went home and the only follow up care he got was a phone call."

Tony Hampshire, who moved to Otley just 18 months ago, said he believed Monday's meeting had been called following the incompetence and arrogance of the health trust.

"You took the decision to close this ward by stealth and arrogance and hoped that you would get away with it. What you are doing now is crisis management. You have not got many friends in this hall," he said.

Another resident said that people in Otley wanted a fully operational hospital that offered 24 hour, seven days a week care.

But Mr Godfrey replied that services needed to be delivered in a safe environment . He added that medical cover was not something that he had any control over.

"The profile of services will remain. Any changes will be discussed and agreed with the forum."

Mr Mulholland said the number of people at the meeting, which had been delayed by 20 minutes to allow everyone to get into the hall, had proved the level of feeling about the hospital in the town.

He credited the health trust for being represented at the meeting, but said he thought it was about time to consider making health authorities more accountable by electing their members.

Mr Mulholland said he would continue pressing the secretary of state for health, Patricia Hewitt for an explanation and he urged people to sign a petition calling for an end to the loss of services at the hospital.