Ex-health boss justifies new firm

Trevor Molton was dismissed as WYMAS chief executive in April 2004

A former health chief accused of defrauding the NHS out of £250,000 has defended his decision to set up a company recruiting overseas nurses.

Trevor Molton, 50, of North Yorks, set up the firm while chief executive of the West Yorkshire Ambulance Trust.

He and former finance director John Miners, 54, of Nailsea, near Bristol, are accused of abusing their positions to fund the company's losses.

They deny conspiracy to defraud and are on trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Mr Molton told the court it was "essential" for the nurses to have somewhere to stay when they arrived in the UK.

He said he had registered the potential conflict of interest with his employers and never hid his involvement with his company.

Mr Molton set up the Trust Professionals agency quickly to bring in nurses from overseas because of pressure from the government.

He said the government regarded it as an "important and urgent initiative" and normal procedures had been ignored because of time pressures.

Company losses

"It was breathtaking the speed that they wanted to roll it out," he said.

Mr Molton told the court Jayne Barnes, then director of nursing, was responsible for the initiative, aimed at easing the shortage of nurses across the health service.

He said a government minister and senior civil servants from the Department of Health, including then health secretary Frank Dobson, visited Trust Professionals to see it in operation.

Mr Molton said Mrs Barnes, who was awarded a CBE for her work in the health service in 2002, decided to let the nurses leave the homes renovated for them by his company, Accommodation for Yorkshire.

It was then that the company incurred loses, which were paid for by the trust, he said.

Estate agent Paul Buckley, 35, of Leeds, is also on trial accused of conspiracy to defraud.

Mr Molton's wife Angela was found not guilty of the same charge earlier this month.

The trial continues.