Minister concerned with poor aftercare

Health minister Caroline Flint is to write to all directors of social services over concerns that some councils are failing to provide adequate aftercare for drug users placed in out-of-area rehabilitation centres.

In a parliamentary debate last week, Flint said she would be “reminding” directors of their statutory duties to drug users placed out of area.

Her comments came after John Penrose, MP for Weston-super-Mare, reiterated his concerns that some councils were failing to check standards at unregistered residential treatment centres in his constituency before referring clients (news, 3 November 2005).

Flint also said she had asked the National Treatment Agency for an action plan to address the problem.