THE region's MPs have clashed once again in the Commons over the state of Worcester's hospital.

Worcester MP Mike Foster urged Health Minister John Hutton to praise the £96m hospital after being shortlisted for the Sunday Times' Hospital of the Year award.

He then attacked Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor for describing the Times' survey as "worthless."

"Such comments do nothing for staff morale, nothing for recruitment of chief medical personnel and everything to do with undermining the faith in our NHS," he said yesterday.

Dr Taylor did not respond, but insisted the installation of new scanners in the county should not be delayed by the NHS trust's financial deficit.

Mid-Worcestershire MP Peter Luff said there were still "very real" problems at the hospital.

He pointed to the shortage of car parking places and long trolley waits.