A ROW over who pays the bill for the care of the surviving sextuplets born to a Libyan couple at a North-East hospital is to be put on the back burner, say hospital chiefs.

Len Fenwick, chief executive of the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, said the emphasis was now on caring for the surviving five babies.

"We have put the needs of the mother and babies foremost. Once the dust settles, we will address the funding issue," he said.

The babies' parents, Jamal Abuhelfala, 38, and his wife, Fawzla, 30, have been at the centre of a row over who will pick up the estimated £500,000 medical bill.

Mr Abuhelfala is due to start a course at the Univer-sity of Northumbria next month, but Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell plans to raise the issue in Parliament after the summer break.

According to Government guidelines, foreign nationals who have moved to the UK to work or study are entitled to free NHS treatment.

But people who are not "ordinarily resident" in the UK are subject to charges.

Mr Fenwick said the investigation into the funding issue would continue, but care came first.

"We are trying to ascertain the status of the father in relation to further education in the UK. We understand that he is being sponsored by an oil company. It is a question of detail," said Mr Fenwick.

The three girls and two boys that survived - Rana, Ahmed, Mohammed, Rahef and Ragged - continue to make progress, said Mr Fenwick.