WORCESTERSHIRE'S new state-of-the-art hospital has been dubbed "the hospital from hell" by a furious county councillor.

John Gordon was told to control his outburst during a top meeting yesterday.

But he refused to be silenced over the "appalling" problems he claims he has discovered while visiting elderly friends at the £96m hospital, which only opened last month.

The Health Concern councillor told members that, during the past few weeks, he had visited Worcestershire Royal Hospital twice a day.

"I have two elderly friends in the hospital and, from what I can see, there are no end of appalling problems," he said. "I can only describe it as a hospital from hell.

"The standards of cleanliness are the lowest I've seen in any hospital. I have even seen dirty bandages and tea towels left near beds."

Mr Gordon told the County Hall cabinet meeting that he considered health in the county to be "precarious" at the moment and called for the introduction of a scrutiny panel to monitor the situation.

After his outburst, Coun Peter Pinfield stressed that the Cabinet's did not share the point of view.

"I want to make it clear this is a personal opinion from Mr Gordon

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From P1 / n and doesn't reflect our thinking," he said.

Chief executive Rob Sykes said a timetable was being set for a scrutiny panel.

During the past year, the county council had forged closer working relations with health which had been considered successful.

The new hospital officially opened last month following a 50-year wait for a new facility in the Faithful City.

The Private Finance Initiative project, led by the consortium Catalyst, saw Worcester's three previous hospital sites amalgamate in one building in Newtown Road.

No one from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust was available to comment on Coun Gordon's attack as the Evening News went to press.