The government has accepted the recommendations of an influential report calling for patients in high security hospitals to be locked in their cells at night, and have their telephone calls monitored in the interests of security.

The former director general of the prison service, Sir Richard Tilt, carried out a review of the country's three special hospitals last year.

His report into Ashworth, Broadmoor and Rampton hospitals made a series of security and staffing recommendations, which the government has pledged to implement by September with a £55 million cash boost.

Among Sir Richard's recommendation are the introduction of mandatory drugs testing, monitoring of patients' telephone calls, and locking some patients' cells at night. Visitors could also be barred from bringing food into the hospitals.

Other recommendations include upgrading security systems and perimeter fencing, personal alarms for staff and annual Prison Service security audits.

Health minister John Hutton said the government had accepted Sir Richard's recommendations in full and that implementation of the recommendations would begin later this year.

He added: "The report makes it clear that security at the three hospitals needs to be improved, and over the next few weeks officials will be working with clinicians to make sure that the measures are implemented effectively."