01/05/2014 East Midlands Today

Yes, that meeting started about an hour ago and the relatives are being

told that home is to be given more time to see through improvements.

Some improvements have already been noticed, the council say, but they

have got to be sustained. To put this into context, there are 180

care homes used by this authority, Nottinghamshire, across the county.

Five contracts with five homes are currently suspended. That gives you

some idea as to the level of concerns. When it comes to meet this

home, I went to meet one relative who has already had enough.

This is Auntie during the war. Theresa says she has always been

close to her aunt throughout her life, and says Irene Shields was

doing much better before going into care. Theresa says she picked the

home, Eton Park at Cotgrave, in a rush, and soon regretted it. Not

happy about the room or the cleanliness. When Auntie got so

depressed that she would not get out of bed, they had to bring her a

commode in, which she did not like using, but it did not get emptied

regularly enough, and it really did smell. The Care Quality Commission's

latest inspection found a lot of failures at Eton Park in March,

including care not properly assessed, residents did not get

enough nutrition and were not always protected from the risk of abuse. In

a statement, the home said it was continuing to make improvements and

has invested half a million pounds recently at the centre.

Irene Shields, who is 97, is now in hospital. Her niece does not want

her back in a care home. This is Auntie's room from when she lived

with us for six months. This was her room. This is her ensuite. So you

want her to come back? I definitely want her to come back, where she

will be loved and cared for. Theresa now has a dim view of the care home.

The council is giving Eton Park more time to sort things out, but her

patience has run out. So how long has the home got to turn

things around? I would say months at most. Improvement has got to be

sustained. Ultimately, if the regulators were not happy, they do

have the power to shut down the home. More widely, big questions are

being asked about the care sector. We saw a Panorama programme on the

BBC this week. Questions are being asked about the pressures that staff

are under on the front line, as well as perhaps the need for cameras in

homes. But this remains low paid work for a lot of the people

involved in care. Some of them complain of working under huge

pressure is. And also, of course, the sector is providing extremely

valuable care to people The UKIP leader Nigel Farage called off a

planned walk`about in Nottingham this lunchtime after a protestor hit

him with an egg. And one day, we might need it.

His visit comes the day after he refused to stand in the forthcoming

by`election at Newark, which will take place on June the 5th. That

by`election was triggered when the sitting MP Patrick Mercer resigned

after admitting taking cash for questions. And today more details of

his part in that scandal were revealed. Our Political Editor John

Hess can tell us more. It's the moment every politician

dreads. UKIP leader Nigel Farage was hit by an egg. No time for speeches,

no time to greet supporters. Simply whisked away, the stage left to the

egg throwing protester. They are just a redundant force that

represents a redundant force in this country. A lot of people have been

hoodwinked into thinking they agreed with their policies, when they don't

actually. Inside a city centre pub, Nigel Farage, brushed up and minus

yolk. The worry about this is that it is preventing normal democracy

from taking place. No walkabout today, and on the day the Newark

by`election was confirmed, no regrets either at not standing. In

the Commons, the government Chief Whip Sir George Young officially

tells MPs Patrick Mercer is no longer the MP for Newark. So to the

Speaker, John Bercow, to formally kick`start the by`election campaign.

The county constituency of Newark. Polling day, Thursday, June five.

The extent of the disgrace of Newark's former MP Peter Mercer was

revealed today in a publication of the parliament standards committee

report that investigated his conduct. It said he:

That was because he set up an all`party Parliamentary group on

Fiji on behalf of a paying client, being represented, unknown to him,

by undercover reporters. Back in Nottingham, this was the closest

Nigel Farage came to the Newark constituency. One of the reasons

Nigel Farage gave for not standing in Newark was that he didn't know

the East Midlands or Newark particularly well. He will certainly

remember his visit to Nottingham now. That is certainly true! You

know, I have only been to Newark once in my life. It was supposed to

be a campaign visit for the European elections, but Newark and an egg

derailed all that. Still to come ` praise for a surgeon who's helping

children to walk again. Rohan Rajan and his team from Derby use a

technique that's helping youngsters like Fern live life to the full.

Full details later. The family of a Nottingham soldier

killed on a training exercise in Devon have described him as an

"amazing, son, brother, boyfriend and expectant father." 20`year`old

Cameron Laing was hit by a trailer which was part of a convoy heading

to Dartmoor. He suffered head and chest injuries. He was serving with

a Royal Logistic Corps regiment based in Rutland. Police say they're

continuing to investigate what happened.

The mother of the missing Leicestershire girl, Madeleine

McCann, says she supports a new campaign to help find missing

children. Kate McCann from Rothley has been publicising the Child

Rescue Alert system, used in parts of America and Europe. It comes as

the McCanns approach the seventh anniversary of the disappearance of

their 3`year`old daughter from a holiday resort in Portugal.

Next tonight, the remarkable work of a medical team which is helping

children walk again. Orthopaedic surgeon Rohan Rajan has just

received a special award from the Mayor of Derby, but used the

occasion to recognise the work of his colleagues. He's also been

praised by Fern Ironmonger, his first patient to go through a

special procedure in order to walk properly, and who now helps others

facing the same operation. On yet another hospital visit, the

iron monger family are coming to the Derbyshire Children's Hospital in

Derby to see a man they now almost count as an old friend. Professor

Rohan Rajan has been treating Fern four sevenths years, since she was

13. `` he has been treating her for seven years. She was born with a

condition where she was missing one of the major bones in each leg, only

two toes on one foot and three on the other, and one leg shorter than

the other. As she grew, her weakened lower leg started to bow and one

foot turned right in. As a result, this leg was six and a half

centimetres shorter than the other. The only wayward to correct it was

with a frame. So she was my Pioneer, my first patient here in Derby. The

procedure involved breaking her leg in two places. I have had two

friends on. They rotated my foot back around, and they have

straightened the bone in my lower leg. They have also lengthened it by

four and a half centimetres. The frame was successful and Fern has

had a final ankle operation, but now works full`time. She also advises

other patients about the frames. What clothes to wear, what sort of

things you can do. How to bathe as well, things like that. Simple tasks

become difficult. She is a very good ambassador for the frame, to let

other patients know what it is like. Now the professor has won an award

from the mayor of Derby for helping over 100 children with foot and leg

problems. Every surgeon requires a good team behind him or her, and

this award is for the whole team. He has done an amazing job . It is nice

that he is getting the recognition. Fern may now be approaching the end

of her procedures, but she will be back, like the Professor, to help

others. Next tonight, Sir David Attenborough

returned to his childhood roots today to kick`start a fundraising

appeal for a Leicestershire tourist attraction. The Rotary Club of

Leicester wants to raise ?150,000 to build a visitor centre in Bradgate

Park. Sir David, who's recovering from knee surgery, said the park is

very important to both our past, and our future.

Returning to a childhood haunt. Sir David Attenborough and his daughter

look out over Bradgate Park. We came here as a family up onto those rock

's, up to the tower, paddling in the street. It was a vision of what the

English countryside can be like which has stayed with me for ever.

Sir David was visiting the park to help launch a fundraising appeal to

build a new visitor centre. The Rotary Club of Leicester needs to

raise ?150,000 to convert this ban so visitors can learn more about the

history of the park. It was fantastic. He is inspiring. To hear

him speak and have his support is amazing. If 10% of that rubs off on

the rest of the people of Leicester, I am sure we will get all the help

we need to raise the money. We know the Brad Kate park is special to

many people, but to get somebody like Sir David saying how important

it was to him personally, he said some very encouraging things about

the work we are doing. So I am very pleased and I shall share that with

the team. Bradgate Park is a very important part of my childhood. And

I am sure it is part of the childhood of hundreds of thousands

of people who grew up in Leicester, and still are doing so. And in spite

of the huge increase in the size of the population, and all the

pressures that brings, here it has been for 500 years. It is hoped the

visitor centre will be up and running by the summer of 2016, to

inspire a new generation of wildlife lovers.

It probably hasn't escaped your notice ` but parts of the East

Midlands have some of the highest number of roadworks in the UK.

According to a new survey, Leicestershire's the second busiest

area in the country ` with more than 1200 road improvement schemes on the

go. Derby was third with 930 and Nottingham fifth with almost 600. 91

UK councils provided information, with unfinished projects totalling

around 10,000. Expectant mothers will now have to

pay if they want a picture of their ultrasound scan in Nottingham. The

NHS trust, which runs both Nottingham City Hospital and the

Queen's Medical Centre, has introduced a ?5 charge for one scan

print`out, or ?10 pounds for three. The Trust says it's to cover the

costs of the thermal imaging paper. If you saw any sunshine today, you

were lucky. So, is the grey here to stay? There will be many different

shades of grey. However, I have at a news for the bank holiday weekend,

later. I was lucky, I saw some sun. And

Colin is here to bring some sunshine. I will try. Good news for

Leicester City fans. The Thai owner and vice chairman at

Leicester City, Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn, says he is talks with

Nigel Pearson over a new contract. He says he wants him to stay and

hopes the deal will be signed in the coming weeks. Aiyawatt, who is known

as Top, rarely gives interviews, but today he said he gets on well with

Nigel and would like him to be his manager in the Premier League.

Pearson is out of contract in the summer and Top says they are in the

middle of negotiations. There will be more information soon. I cannot

say an individual, because it is not fair for anyone. In the next few

weeks, you will see more. But I would prefer him to stay, of course.

Top explains too why he wants to keep Nigel. Tune in tomorrow night

to see more and for a special feature ahead of a celebratory

weekend for the Foxes. One other bit of football news `

Notts County Ladies kept up their brilliant start to the season with a

5`0 drubbing of Aston Villa in the Continental Cup.

It's the biggest fight in British history and today another 20,000

tickets for Carl Froch's rematch with George Groves sold out in just

a few minutes. It means there will be 80,000 fans inside Wembley

stadium later this month to see the most eagerly`anticipated fight in

decades. There's some flash photography coming up.

Today Carl Froch and admitted to feeling worried, not about the

fight, but about this. His first`ever helicopter flight. I am

going on a short trip to London. I have no chance of making it in the

traffic am so I will take a helicopter down there. Bit nervous.

No nerves about his challenger, George Groves. The fierce rivalry

between them and the controversy about that last fight helped sell

20,000 tickets in minutes today. It has sold out. It is safe to say that

Wembley stadium will be full. It is unbelievable. I am just glad to be

part of it. It is a platform for me to showcase my skills and show

people that any queries over the first fight which are hovering, I

can set the record straight. Groves has waged a war of words with frogs,

who is taking little notice. When you have got kids, there is this

noise all the time. I put it on a similar level as that, because he is

very childish. So it is not about him, this fight. It is about me.

Good luck with that and with the helicopter flight. I am more nervous

about the helicopter! So, Froch, the challenger, is off to face his

challenger, Groves. The countdown to the biggest fight in British history

is definitely on. Other news ` Nottinghamshire bowler

Harry Gurney has been included in the England Cricket Squad to face

Scotland in next week's One Day International. It was the first

squad influenced by new selector and Notts Director of Cricket Mick

Newell. Onto rugby, and Leicester Tigers sit

on the edge of the Premiership Semi`Finals this week. A win away at

Sale on Saturday should be enough to take them over the line. And as I

found out this week, the team returned to training in determined

mood. They had a week off. And they came

back ready, with enough fire in their bellies to take it out on each

other. Quite a few boys have clearly been sitting on the beach and

getting worked up. They are used to smashing into each other and have

had nothing to do for a few weeks, so it was feisty in training, which

was good to see. Oh, the harlequins defeat. So narrow, so dramatic. It

means Tigers cut honestly hope for a home semifinal now, but they are not

the tin that deterred them. We want to win every week. That is our goal.

We don't plan on taking any weeks off. Every time we put on the green

jersey, we want to win. There is still competition for the third and

fourth spot. You can win it. You are away from home in the semis, but we

are good enough to win. Fans will travel away, and they will always go

with Twickenham on their minds. With the mindset that the players have

got, there is no doubt we will be mentally ready for four games. BBC

radio Leicester have commentary this weekend.

Already in their play`off semi`finals are the Leicester

Riders' basketball team. The defending Champions must get past

League winners Newcastle. Tonight, Riders are back at Loughborough

University and hoping for another big crowd for the home leg of their

tie, after seeing off Cheshire in the quarters there at the weekend.

Here we go, Newcastle again. Both teams have great respect for each

other. The games are credit to our league. We know it will be a tough

match and we know we have to play well. And finally, all the best to

Leicester's snooker star Mark Selby, who begins his World Championship

semifinal in a few minutes. The opening frames against Neil

Robertson are live on BBC Two from seven.

A football fan has just completed a mammoth charity challenge ` cycling

3,500 to every Leicester City away game this season. Foxes supporter

Richard Page has been raising money to find a cure for a rare medical

condition which has left his son unable to walk or talk. Emily

Anderson has been to meet the family.

Six`year`old Ellis has a condition called MEC P2 duplication syndrome.

It is a chromosomal abnormality which affects developed. Ellis is

one of only 30 children in the UK who have been diagnosed with the

condition. He is unable to walk or talk, and suffers daily from

epileptic seizures. Luckily, they are coming more under control. The

big goal is to get him to do those things that every other six`year`old

boy can do. It gets tough at times, especially when he suffers with his

chest. We are always wary about the weather and taking him out. Since

Leicester City's championship campaign began last August, Richard

has joined the Foxes on their journey, cycling to each of their

away games. He has clocked up thousands of miles an hour to get

the matches, and at times, he says it has been really tough. When I

first started, I had never actually ridden a bike since I was young.

Then we waited for the fixture list to come out. Middlesbrough was 186

miles. On Saturday at Leicester City's final game of the season,

Richard will be presented with a cheque for ?23,000 from the club's

Thai owners. ?1000 for every away game he has travelled to the season.

Richard has raised over ?75,000 so far but he says he will keep

fundraising until a cure for his son's condition is found.

We salute you. Time for the weather now, with the

rainy old and. Things are improving! But you are right, there

has been heavy rain around for some of us today. The cloud has proved

stubborn. We are expecting it to be cloudy for much of the day

tomorrow, but mostly drive. You will notice it feeling colder. That is

down to this cold front which is moving south as we go through the

day on Friday. Behind it, there will be much colder air from the north

bringing a change to things tomorrow. Tonight, the showers will

clear away during the evening. The cloud might be thick enough to

produce a few spots of light rain or drizzle. A slightly cooler night

that we have been used to. It is a cloudy and dull start of the day. A

bit of light and patchy rain around through the morning. As the cold

front clears south, behind it it becomes drier and brighter in the

afternoon. Feeling fresher in the north`easterly breeze. For the

weekend, high pressure is in charge for Saturday and it remains in

charge as we go into Sunday. So it looks like a fine, settled and dry

weekend. Not wall`to`wall sunshine, but there will be plenty of it

around. And for the weekend, there will be temperatures of 12 or 13

Celsius. On Monday, there will be warmer air and temperatures in the

mid to high teens. I take it back, I will not call you rainy again!

Now, time to tell you about an exciting opportunity. If you've

fancied being a broadcaster, this might be for you. This month, the

BBC is offering apprenticeships in its local radio stations and

applications will be taken until May the 12th. Successful candidates will

start their 15 month apprenticeships in September and after training,

they'll work as Apprentice Broadcast Assistants in English local radio

stations. If you're over 18 this September, a

non`graduate ` and you want to find out more ` visit the BBC website.

Who knows, you could be joining our colleagues in BBC local radio later

this year. That was how we started. Have a go!

I shall be back with the latest news. Enjoy your evening.