The A&E department of Birmingham's new and prestigious 'Queen Elizabeth Hospital' opened for business last month.
The £545million project is due to be fully open and operational by the end of 2011.
A report today suggests that the new hospital, when opened, is to experiment with a revolutionary, if somewhat controversial scheme, whereby convalescing patients will be expected to carry out menial tasks around the hospital, which will include making their own beds and cleaning their own wards.
A spokesman for the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation said, 'We are thrilled that Birmingham has been chosen to introduce this innovative scheme. We expect that patients will embrace the move and will prefer to spend their recovery time productively, rather than simply sitting in the lounge reading or watching TV.'
He went on to confirm that each case would be assessed on it's own merits and tasks allocated on medical recommendations. 'More seriously and terminally ill patients may only be expected to do a little light dusting.' he concluded.
Newly appointed Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, also backed the proposal.' It goes without saying,' he said, 'that patients will not be expected to supply their own cleaning materials or equipment. These will be provided for them, although if relatives do want to bring in a gift, then perhaps a pack of dusters or some polish might be more useful than grapes or magazines. I don't think that patients will have much time for reading from now on.'
Lansley went on to confirm that the scheme would be extended to other parts of the country if it proves successful. 'I see no limits to this scheme,' he said.'Patients could be allocated to all manner of tasks, cleaning, administration, cooking meals, those with some medical knowledge could even help treat other patients and assist in operations!'
UNISON, the Health Worker's Union issued a strongly worded statement opposing the scheme. 'We and our members strongly oppose this scheme,' it said.
The NHS Trust defended it's decision. 'The previous Government spent £2.5 million on consultant's fees alone to get this far. We consider this money well spent.'
