IF we're honest, few among us are able to resist the urge to become tetchy and verbose when we feel unfairly treated.

So the spat between Worcester's Labour MP Mike Foster and his Mid-Worcestershire Tory counterpart Peter Luff comes as no surprise, even if it needs to be nipped in the bud before it turns into a damaging slanging match.

For what it's worth, it seemed clear to us that Mr Foster had qualified his comments about staff morale at Worcestershire Royal Hospital - which triggered Mr Luff's anger - by saying he knew that criticism was not directed at them.

On the other hand, his veiled claim that Mr Luff and Wyre Forest Health Concern MP Richard Taylor were using the WRH as a political football did him - and them - a disservice.

What's also abundantly clear is that the really demoralising issue for staff is Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust's apparent inability to do anything other than lurch deeper into trouble - that and the Health Secretary's sluggish grasp of what's going on, and readiness to do something about it.

Staff simply can't continue to keep the hospital going for ever. The well of goodwill, caring and energy isn't bottomless - certainly not in a situation where their human right to free expression is being denied by a gagging order.

Both Mr Foster and Mr Luff know the WRH has significant, growing difficulties in delivering the service each wants his constituents to receive.

Those difficulties won't go away until they start pulling together for the greater good.