An MP has blasted West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust for a "misleading" comment regarding him and the Watford hospital plans.

Sir Mike Penning has demanded a retraction and apology after the trust claimed he called on the Prime Minister to back calls for a new hospital in Hemel Hempstead.

Currently proposals are in the pipeline to redevelop Watford General Hospital at its current site despite campaigners' calls for a new hospital elsewhere in west Herts.

In a letter to the trust Sir Mike wrote: "I am extremely angry that you have deliberately mid-quoted me in order to create divisions between the people of Watford and the people of Hemel Hemstead."

Watford Observer: The letter from Sir Mike to West Herts NHS Hospitals Trust.The letter from Sir Mike to West Herts NHS Hospitals Trust.

He explained that during Prime Minister's Questions he asked Mr Johnson to back a new hospital "for the people of Hemel Hempstead, and most certainly not for the new hospital to be in Hemel Hempstead".

Sir Mike added: "I have been contacted by a number of residents who are angry that I appear now to be supporting your ridiculous scheme to rebuild Watford General Hospital on its existing site.

"In acting in this way, the Trust has made an unhelpful and unnecessary contribution to this important debate."

Deputy chief executive Helen Brown said: “Clearly, hospital redevelopment plans are an emotive subject and we used the phrase ‘building a new hospital in Hemel’ instead of ‘for Hemel’ in error, for which I apologise.

“We have been trying to secure funding for new and improved hospital facilities for our patients for many years and we have set out plans to redevelop on our existing sites consistently since 2017.

"We stand by our view that the best route to achieving new hospital facilities for our patients and staff, as quickly as possible, is by major redevelopment at Watford General Hospital and improvements to our hospitals in Hemel Hempstead and St Albans.”

Last week the PM said he would meet with the Secretary of State to "unblock" progress on the plans "one way or another" after they were raised in Parliament.