Labour would make HAs fund aftercare. . Glasgow board agrees 'patient hotel'. . Trust federation snubbed. . Special hospitals complaints shake-up

Published: 07/03/2002, Volume II2, No. 5795 Page 107

Labour has drawn up plans requiring health authorities to 'fully fund a specified period'of aftercare when patients are discharged from hospitals.Shadow community care minister Jeff Rooker said some HAs sent patients home too soon in order to pass responsibility to social services. Labour's plan would stop such buckpassing.'If the NHS funds the whole caboodle that will be a bloody good incentive for the NHS not to turn people out too soon, 'he said.

Patients are to be moved from acute hospital beds to hotel rooms under deals between hospitals and a private company.Greater Glasgow health board is to agree to the first 'patient hotel'at the Western Infirmary with developer John Laing and hotel operator SAS Service Partner.SAS expects between five and 10 further patient hotels across the country this year.Similar schemes already operate in Sweden.

Labour leaders have closed the door on the NHS Trust Federation's efforts to keep the purchaserprovider split in the event of the party winning the general election.Shadow health secretary Robin Cook made it clear there would be little room for dialogue between Labour ministers and organisations like the federation, which feels it was given the cold shoulder.Chair John Greetham said: 'We are talking to MPs and anyone who is interested.Unfortunately, none of the Labour Party members wants to talk to us at all'.

A major shake-up of procedures for investigating patients' complaints of maltreatment at special hospitals is to be introduced from April.

Independent adjudicators will examine serious accusations against staff in a reform prompted by the inquiry into Ashworth Special Hospital.