POLITICIANS and doctors believe grim predictions about Worcester's new hospital are starting to come true.

Health experts warned more than two years ago that the £96m hospital would not have enough beds to cope with demand.

Now, red alerts, which suspend normal admissions to Worcestershire Royal, have prompted MPs to call for more action.

During the red alerts earlier this month, GPs were urged to find alternatives to sending patients to hospital. The memo warning the doctors of the situation, described it as "crucial".

The new alert system features a traffic light system of green, amber and red. The red alert is activated when there are sharp rises in the number of admissions.

At these times, admissions normally routed through the Medical Assessment Unit are suspended.

MP Peter Luff has demanded to know why acute hospital beds at Worcester's new hospital were closed to new admissions on two separate days.

The Tory MP said the hospital was not admitting new patients on Monday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 11.

He has now tabled urgent parliamentary questions to Health Secretary Alan Milburn.

Mr Luff, MP for Mid Worcestershire, asked how many beds were available to the NHS Trust on these dates, and what emergency plans were in place to find space in the event of a flu outbreak, serious accident or terror attack.

"I understand that all acute hospital beds were closed to admissions on both December 2 and 11 - and that is without any major incident or epidemic in the county," he said.

"Waiting lists are being massaged at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital as my constituents are kept waiting unreasonably long for out-patient appointments.

"The local health service is under extraordinary pressure. When is the Government going to do something to help?"

Kidderminster MP Dr Richard Taylor said the problem was proof that more facilities were need at Kidderminster Hospital.

However, a spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said the red alerts sounded dramatic, but were only short term situations.

He said the hospital was never closed to admissions.