PRIME Minister Tony Blair is once again set to be called to account for the state of the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

City MP Mike Foster's name came "out of the hat" to ask the first question during today's Prime Minister's Questions, at noon.

He will be quizzing the Prime Minister on the continuing furore over the hospital and its managers.

Meanwhile, concerns about the troubled £95m hospital have exploded into a behind-the-scenes bust-up between the county's MPs.

In a heated exchange of letters, Mr Foster accused Peter Luff of throwing his "battered teddy out of the cot".

Mid-Worcestershire MP Mr Luff had previously accused his Labour opponent of using "inelegant language".

The row was sparked by Monday's Evening News front page - which revealed Mr Foster had made a spot check visit to the new hospital.

Mr Luff was furious at Mr Foster's suggestion staff had been "genuinely hurt" by the criticism heaped on the hospital by politicians.

This was judged to be an attack on himself and other opposition MPs, including the Wyre Forest Health Concern MP, Dr Richard Taylor.

In a 700-word letter to Mr Foster, Mr Luff described the suggestion he had been criticising doctors and nurses, rather than management problems, as "garbage".

He said his mailbag was full of letters from unhappy staff, but they were prevented from speaking out by a gagging order.

The Tory MP then added: "I am sorry that, once again, you prefer to defend the Government and to criticise those who are expressing genuine local fears, rather than to join in fighting for better public services in Worcestershire."

In a 400-word response, Mr Foster said Mr Luff had "not bothered" to digest his comments.

Mr Foster said he had made it clear the remarks of politicians had not been directed at the staff - but it was they who "felt it".

He concluded: "Not for the first time I have had to urge you to calm down and look at what I said, not what you thought or hoped I had said.

"If you had done so, perhaps the battered teddy would not have found itself once again flying out of the cot."

In a Westminster debate on Monday evening, Dr Taylor had been at pains to stress he had not been criticising the staff either.