Community health councils' chief Toby Harris has resigned after a fierce row within the organisation over 'conflicts of interest'.

The row centred on his appointment as a non-executive director of London Ambulance Service trust while he was still director of the Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales.

Mr Harris, who has led ACHCEW for 11 years, said the row had not directly led to his decision to quit. 'I do not think there is a conflict of interest,' he told the Journal.

But ACHCEW chair Jennifer Elliott said a 'groundswell of anger' among members had 'certainly had a bearing on the timing of his departure'.

Ms Elliott said she had considered resigning after she was criticised by colleagues for not discussing the LAS appointment with them. She decided not to quit as she only has weeks of her term of office to go.

She had backed Mr Harris at an April meeting of ACHCEW's ruling standing committee.

Mr Harris made no mention of his LAS appointment in the press release announcing his departure. He gave no reason for his decision other than to say, 'it is no doubt right both for the organisation and for me to move on'.

He said he intends to put together a 'portfolio career' and is likely to take on NHS-related consultancy work. Mr Harris is also leader of Haringey council in London, and has been tipped as a possible mayor of London.

He has agreed to stay on until a new director is in post, which is unlikely to be before the autumn.