EVESHAM MP Peter Luff fired off an angry letter to Tony Blair after Prime Minister's question time in the Commons.

Mr Luff asked the PM why proposals to decimate Evesham Community Hospital were even being considered when they were contrary to government policy and when record sums were going to health services.

"The 3,000 people who crowded into Market Square for the protest rally and the 20,000 people who have signed the petition would be surprised to learn that only two years ago in Keeping the NHS Local, the government advocated sustainable solutions for smaller hospitals to secure their valued role at the heart of local communities," he said.

The PM replied that decision making had got to be a matter for the PCT. That was the procedure. He understood that proposals were at an early stage and he expected to take into account all representations.

The extra funding had gone towards the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital and extra nurses, consultants and doctors, all contributing to improved health care services.

A furious Mr Luff said: "I wanted my constituents to hear the PM's explanation.

"He offered none. I have written an angry letter to him, pointing out the mistakes in his answer and regretting his attempts to score Party points when I had gone to the trouble to tell Downing Street on Monday what I intended to ask."

He added: "I fondly imagined this would produce a constructive response from Tony Blair. I was wrong."

Mr Luff said there were large increases in funding but also large increases in costs, particularly the ruinously expensive PFI hospital at Worcester, as well as an appalling funding deal from central government too, short-changing the community by up to £40 million a year.