Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has described a treatment centre in Hove as a symbol of the NHS of the future.

Ms Hewitt took a break from the Labour conference yesterday to visit Knoll House intermediate care centre in Ingram Crescent West, Hangleton.

It offers rehabilitative treatment to allow patients to leave hospital earlier and prevent unnecessary admissions.

The centre - opened by Ms Hewitt's predecessor John Reid during last year's Labour conference - and others like it around the country help cut waiting lists by ensuring hospital beds are not occupied by patients who do not need to be there.

Ms Hewitt said: "This unit is a wonderful example of the NHS of the future.

"It is being used to get people out of hospitals earlier than would otherwise be the case.

"It is helping them get back the confidence and the skills they need so that they can go home."

Ms Hewitt met patients Mary Nichols and Rene Taylor in the centre's bone booster clinic where they were doing exercises to restore their strength after hospital treatment for fractures suffered in falls.

She also met Jean Evans who was baking a cake in the centre's rehabilitation clinic which helps patients regain the skills and confidence they need to return home after lengthy stays in hospital.

September 29 2005