CONFLICT over the proposed closure of two Wallasey Victoria Central Hospital wards has developed into a full-blown political clash.

The town's Labour MP Angela Eagle and Tory Parliamentary hopeful Leah Fraser share the conviction that plans to close wards six and seven should be reversed.

But a visit to Wallasey by Tory shadow Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley last week had the two at daggers-drawn.

Ms Eagle claimed the visit would give the shadow minister the chance to explain to the people of Wallasey what he thought his party's proposal to cut £1bn from the health budget would do for the town's health service.

She observed: "I hope that people will ask the Tories just where they think the axe should fall. Will it cut the new walk-in centre at VCH on which Labour has just spent £2m improving? Will it cut the Wallasey Heart Centre at VCH, which is saving hundreds of lives? Will they sack thousands of new doctors and nurses?"

Mrs Fraser hit back: "For a woman who has been Wallasey's MP for 13 years to become hysterical at a visit by a Conservative health spokesman, shows that she is worried about the way health care is being run in Wallasey. All the statistics and spin will not reassure patients and staff at wards six and seven."

Mr Lansley's visit to VCH was accompanied by placard-waving demonstrators demanding a re-think over the closure measures, which have been put on hold for further investigation.

Mr Lansley gave a guarantee that the controversial closures would be reviewed by a Tory Government.

Mrs Fraser said: "Andrew Lansley has said, in the clearest way possible, that if the PCT reaches the decision to close the wards, against the wishes of 18,000 people in Wallasey, then he will order a review of how that decision was reached."

She went on: "The decision to delay making a decision is a classic piece of political fudge. The delay means that patients, their families and staff are now living under the daily threat of closure and all the stress that brings."

Meanwhile, Ms Eagle has secured a meeting between Health Minister John Hutton and members of hospital staff to put the case for the continued use of wards six and seven. The meeting will take place at the House of Commons on March 9.

She commented: "I was extremely pleased that the primary care trust listened to the people of Wallasey in the recent consultation by deferring changes until they could prove that hospital admissions for the elderly can be cut permanently by service redesign. I hope the minister will see that the proposal on wards six and seven will not be in our communities' best interests."