A Newcastle hospital is thinking of electronically tagging its patients, following the death of Abram Walker, 66, who was found dead in a corridor 10 hours after he disappeared. The Royal Victoria Infirmary is considering proposals to introduce magnetic locks and swipe-card access to doors on a number of wards for elderly people. With consent from relatives, patients would wear tags that would bleep if they left the ward. A pilot scheme is likely to run for three months, following consultation with Newcastle community health council and Age Concern.