A HEALTH watchdog has revealed it closed a specialist NHS hospital - forcing its patients to be transferred to infirmaries across the North East - because it was smelly, unsafe and under-staffed.

The Care Quality Commission report into Bootham Park Hospital, in York - now run by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust - came as lawyers for its former psychiatric patients submitted an application to the High Court for permission to undertake a judicial review to challenge the decision to close it in September.

Yogi Amin, who is representing the patients, who were moved to Roseberry Park in Middlesbrough, West Park, in Darlington, The Friarage, in Northallerton, Sandwell Park, in Hartlepool and Lanchester Road, in Durham, were concerned about the effect the closure would have on the safety of patients.

A new psychiatric hospital is not expected to be built in York until January 2019.

He said lawyers had also written to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust.

Mr Amin said: "There are many unanswered questions about how a hospital service was shut down within six days with vulnerable patients being moved resulting in no local in patient service.

"Many patients have since been forced to have treatment under the Mental Health Act many miles away from York, far away from their family and community.

"Clarity is required as to whether the decisions made were in fact lawful and necessary. This will then help inform our next steps as we seek to get the full hospital services re-instated."

The commission's report states inspectors found a leaking ward toilet that had leaked into ward below, leaving a "noxious" smell throughout a ward, while its numerous sinks on wards and bedrooms had scalding water temperatures up of 53 degrees centigrade.

It highlighted potential suicide concerns at the psychiatric unit after finding several ligature points and staff shortages on both wards and found a missing.

The report states: "We were told about a recent incident that had resulted in a patient climbing out of a window and onto the roof. The patient was returned safely to the ward after police intervention.

"On the last day of our inspection, we noted a crack in the ceiling on the main corridor of the hospital. Part of the ceiling subsequently fell down."