HEALTH Ministers have admitted staff shortages forced the closure of beds at Worcester's new £95m hospital over the busy Christmas period.

But they have denied a bed shortage was responsible for the hospital twice being closed to emergency admissions last month.

Health Minister David Lammy instead blamed an outbreak of illness on hospital wards.

The revelations came after angry clashes between Tory MP Peter Luff and Tony Blair during Prime Minister's questions in the Commons.

The Mid-Worcestershire MP threw back at Mr Blair words he used in an exclusive article for the Evening News when the hospital opened last year.

Mr Luff also highlighted a leaked report by the Prime Minister's own delivery unit warning there was an "immense risk" the NHS would not take advantage of extra Government investment.

"When the new Worcestershire Royal Hospital opened, the Prime Minister said it would have its 'teething problems'," said Mr Luff.

"Every day since then it has been operating at capacity and it has been on red alert regularly with patients waiting outside in ambulances, putting a huge strain on the hard-working doctors and nurses of that hospital.

"Are these just 'teething problems'? Or do they provide compelling evidence the head of the delivery unit was right to warn there has not been enough forethought and planning by the health department?"

Attacked

Mr Blair insisted the money was not being wasted, and was providing new buildings and more nurses and doctors.

Worcester MP Mike Foster attacked Mr Luff for demanding better facilities for his area but then voting to reduce the health budget.

"Resources are going into the health service in Worcester and we have to ensure that the money is used to improve patient care and recruit and retain high quality staff," he said.

"The question Peter Luff has to ask himself is how can you do this when you are promising to cut the health budget by 20 per cent?"

Closed Last month, the Evening News revealed that acute hospital beds at the hospital were closed to new admissions on two separate days - December 2 and 11. There were fears that grim predictions the hospital did not have enough beds were coming true.

But Mr David Lammy insisted that was not the case. He said wards had been closed on those days was because there was an outbreak of sickness and diarrhoea, but beds had been free.

However, he admitted the hospital had been forced to prevent admissions on another date - December 17 - because of staff shortages. Six beds had to be closed.