Because the Labour backbencher was treated by St Thomas's Hospital in Westminster last year, he would get a vote on key issues about its activities if it became a Foundation Hospital.

But he would have no input into such decisions at the Christie, in Manchester, despite the fact that many of his constituents were treated there.

The Pendle MP -- who was one of 65 Labour MPs who rebelled but failed to block government plans to create the new semi-independent Foundation Hospitals last night -- said: "That is absurd.

"I was walking along by the River Thames reading a newspaper and I hit my head on a canopy. I shall never walk along with my head in a newspaper again.

"I ended up on the floor feeling like my head had been hit by a sledgehammer.

"I was treated at St Thomas's opposite the Houses of Parliament. As a result, I am now on their books and would have a vote on its future policies if it became a Foundation Hospital.

"But the Christie -- which is vital to East Lancashire cancer sufferers -- is a different story. If it takes up the status, I will have no say at all on what happens.''

Mr Prentice said that Foundation Hospitals were a mistake which was being forced through the Commons by Communist-style tactics. He said: "This is democratic centralism at its worst. This is yet another NHS reform we don't need. It is like Maoist permanent revolution.

"It will move the focus of care from GPs which is the whole idea of the government's creation of Primary Care Trusts. They were set up to make decisions on care and purchasing, but now we are to get independent Foundation Hospitals in the middle of their area."

Mr Prentice fears that a new layer of Foundation Hospitals could create a two-tier health service.