HEALTH bosses need to work more closely with staff and patients to make improvementsin the NHS, according to a new report by a Government research group.

The Institute of Public Policy Research says Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) must ensure planning is closer to the needs of patients and health staff. And they warn that poor management is undermining attempts to improve services.

Nobody at the Swindon PCT was available to comment on the report.

However, the findings come just four days after the Evening Advertiser told the story of Ben Whitehorn.

His mum Toni, 35, claims the 15-year-old, who is paralysed from the chest down, is being abandoned by Swindon Primary Care Trust, which is responsible for providing carers.

The teenager was left needing 24-hour care after an operation to correct a curvature of his spine in 1999.

Mrs Whitehorn claims one of Ben's carers is now being paid more than £10,000 to sit at home following a family break-up last November.

Experienced Viva Woolhouse is said to be only too happy to return to the home now things have settled down, but Mrs Whitehorn claims Swindon PCT will not sign the paperwork.

Swindon PCT issued a statement insisting that it could not comment on specific cases. It did, however, stress that patient care is always a priority.

The Institute for Public Policy Research report also recommends:

Establishing recruitment schemes targeted at the public and private sector

Enhancing the role of IT

Extending primary care to include services like blood tests

Extending out-of-hours services

PCTs replaced Primary Care Groups in 2000 and from April 2003 were given responsibility for approximately 80 per cent of the NHS budget.

Kevin Shoesmith