10/11/2011 Look East - East

Good evening. Coming up, a ground- breaking day for the NHS or an

accident waiting to happen? Hinchingbrooke Hospital divide

opinion. I think it is devastating. The NHS was set up to be free to

people other point of use and funded by taxation. Now there is a

private company running it to have to make a profit. All change on the

eastern front as the troops feel the effects of defence cuts.

makes financial sense to close Waterbeach and sell it. The units

there will have good memories of local area but they will build good

memories with the area they go to in the future. A mother's plea for

the girl from Suffolk to is one in a billion.

And as Britain remembers, we have extraordinary footage of the

The arguments are still raging tonight after one of our hospitals

was taken over by a private company. The Government claims that it is a

good deal for patients and staff. But the union's call it an accident

waiting to happen. The hospital at Hinchingbrooke was

described as a financial and clinical basket-case in parliament

today, that had been at risk of closure. The new operator is a

closure. The new operator is a private investment firm called

Circle, being paid �1 billion of taxpayers' money to manage a

hospital for the next 10 years. The deal comes three years after

Hinchingbrooke ran up debts of �38 million. One year ago, Circle was

named as the preferred bidder. Late last night, after months of delays,

the firm was finally told it could go ahead. Circle officially takes

over next February. In a moment, their Chief Executive talks about

the plans. Our reporter is at Hinchingbrooke.

Today has been a historic day. Not only for this hospital but for the

NHS. Circle has been offered a contract to run this hospital for

10 years. A hospital remains an NHS facility and the staff remain NHS

facility and the staff remain NHS staff. But some people feel that

this sets a dangerous precedent. Unison called the takeover an

accident waiting to happen. They believe that there is no reason why

this hospital's troubles cannot be sorted out by the NHS. It is

devastating, to be honest. The NHS was set up to be too free to people

at the point of use and funded by a taxation. Now we have a private

company running it. Earlier this year, we visited an NHS Centre in

Nottingham also managed by a Circle. Here, Circle claimed to have saved

the NHS money. They also claim they have a patient approval rate of 90%.

There are concerns that a district hospital like Hinchingbrooke

presents Circle with a different set of challenges. A treatment

centre is a planned place where people are booked in. You know what

they're coming for and what they are -- when they are arriving, so

you can tailor-make services. This is a walk in hospital with

midwifery and accident and emergency. That is our concern,

that they have no experience of running a general hospital. There

are also concerns that as a private company, it will have to make money

whilst also paying off debts. There are fears this could lead to

services being cut. Will they guarantee to keep accident and

emergency services at the hospital? Circle have a job of getting rid of

debt. They have the job of efficiently running the hospital.

It would be perfect for them if there was no accident and emergency

and maternity services. But the NHS and the Government were today quick

to reassure people that Circle is committed to maintaining services

and jobs. There are no plans to change services at this point.

Maternity and accident and emergency remain. That is categoric.

There are no plans to change services at Hinchingbrooke.

confident that this is the best way forward to establish this hospital

once again on a firm footing to meet the finest health care for

constituents and those of Honourable Members in the area.

is now the hard work begins to prepare the hospital and staff for

the changes and challenges that lie ahead.

Despite these assurances, I have spoken to some people today who are

still unclear as to how this will work. How will a private company

make money for itself whilst clearing a �38 million debt and

maintaining services? We will find out more in February when Circle

takeover. Earlier, I spoke to the Chief

Executive of Circle, Ali Parsa. I started by asking him how the

company intended to pay off a hospital's debt within 10 years and

make a profit. We're going to do that in the same way that any

reasonable, rational household is dealing with finances today. By

being more efficient, more productive and doing more with the

resources that we have, and getting rid of waste, bureaucracy, layers

of things that waste our time and effort. We have done it in

Nottingham and Bath, and we will do it here. The result will be really

good for patients. I am sure there are many ways in which there can be

improvements in the NHS as far as bureaucracy is concerned, but the

fact remains that this will still be an NHS operation. You cannot

just ditched the bureaucracy and save money that way. There will

still need to be paperwork and bureaucracy because you're still

providing an NHS service. Absolutely. We do the same thing in

Nottingham. We have NHS staff within the NHS family. With the

idea of them joining us, productivity improved by 18%. 996

out of 1000 patients said they would recommend it. You or eight

times less likely to go back into an operating theatre if you have an

operation in this facility. Why? Because the doctors and nurses can

make decisions on what is good for patients and implement them. They

did not need to write a paper on it, and give it to someone else. It is

not about the people, it is about the system. The unions are very

concerned, calling it an accident waiting to happen. They are worried

about the fact that you're going to have to cut the numbers of staff in

order to pay off the debt. Can you guarantee staffing levels will not

be reduced? You can guarantee that we are about providing more

services with existing resources. Some people have written the

catchphrase, an accident waiting to happen. You say that unions are

against this, I have only heard one union and one official says

something. That was the Royal College of Nurses, and they have

been a great supporter of what we're trying to do. Local doctors

have written to the Prime Minister asking for this to happen. This is

about saving a local hospital and creating a model that other

hospitals can learn from. What about concerns that have been

raised about Circle itself, your financial stability and your

political backing, which Labour say is very much to do with the

Conservative Party. That is just not true. The last four for five

years, we have raised more money more successfully in the middle of

the recession -- than many governments have been able to do.

There is no question about that. Do some of those people who invest in

our organisation support one political party versus another? I

am sure they do, but I used to have this conversation with the

leadership of the Labour Party when they were in power, about how we

could do something extraordinary. Remember, this process started

during the Labour government. This is about a simple debate. Does a

small hospital in Britain work or do we shut them down and give them

to the big hospitals to operate as another alternative? We believe

that small community hospitals are the jewel in the crown of the NHS

and by giving the power to the local doctors and nurses, we think

we can demonstrate how they can do it extremely well.

Thank you very much. It has been confirmed that Waterbeach Barracks

near Cambridge will close as part of the defence cuts. The decision

means nearly 1000 soldiers and families will be relocated to

Scotland. The decision is part of a wider shake-up aimed at bringing

troops home from Germany. For a region that is very dependent

on defence matters, it is going to affect our part of the world quite

significantly. The headlines from today's announcement, Firstly 930

personnel and families from the Engineer Regiment here will move to

RAF Kinloss. Another 44 from 12 Engineer Group also based here will

move to RAF Wittering. 2nd Battalion the Royal Anglians will

Battalion the Royal Anglians will move 620 soldiers from Cyprus to

RAF Cottesmore or just over the border. Foreign made the biggest

border. Foreign made the biggest impact will be here in Waterbeach.

-- far and away, the biggest impact. This is what 39 Engineer Regiment

does best, construction in conflict zones. Their role in building

infrastructure in Afghanistan has been vital. Based at Waterbeach for

44 years, they had to Scotland next summer. Those who depend on income

from the base are not surprised or happy. We count on the barracks for

money. When they go, it will affect us. The day have been very helpful

and they are no trouble at all. -- they have been very helpful.

could be worse -- it could be worse -- it could be worth �100,000 worth

although money that we will lose. Another fear is that the barracks

will be sold off, prime real estate for 13,000 new homes. The community

has fought off the threat of the New Town three times previously.

Residents are clear that they do not want 13,000 houses dumped on

them. One to be just a high-value site and it makes sense financially

to close it and sell it. -- Waterbeach is a high value site.

The units based here will have good memories but they will build good

memories of the area they are going to a. For other units, it is a game

of musical chairs. This unit, training in Norfolk, will return to

their heartland. Many recruits come from Cambridgeshire and the

neighbouring counties. Their sister Battalion in Surrey, where so many

have been welcomed home from Afghanistan, is currently moving to

Wilshere to make room for members of the Yorkshire Regiment. One

common thread is that soldiers from three local units are moving to

former air bases. One of them, until recently, the home of the

Harrier. An indication that there may be a new lease of life at aria

footering. A major blow for Waterbeach. -- RAF

Wittering. Some of the engineers here at Waterbeach are currently

serving in the heat off Afghanistan. But this time next year, they will

be experiencing the autumnal chill of northern Scotland. I have to one

year, this is not the end of the defence cuts. There is more pain to

come. -- I have to warn you. More to come, including a report

from Brussels were one of our MPs is heading a campaign against

bureaucratic waste. And on the eve of Armistice Day,

recently restored film showing the horror of war. That is after a

closer look at the news where you Details emerged today of another

carbon monoxide tragedy in Essex. On Monday, we reported on a couple

found dead at their homes in Wickford. Today, an inquest heard

how two pensioners in Southend were also overcome by poisonous fumes.

It looks comfortable on naff but this bungalow was a death trap for

the elderly couple who lived in there. -- comfortable enough. The

bodies were found side by side in the bed nude -- in the bedroom. One

of the couple's sons noticed a piece of toast on the bedside table.

In the kitchen, the Grill was on. It was later found to emit a

dangerous level of carbon monoxide. At an inquest, the coroner,

pictured at an earlier hearing, recorded the cause of death as

carbon monoxide toxicity. Afterwards, the family urged

everybody to have gas appliances checked and to get carbon monoxide

monitors. A or I can say to people out there with elderly parents,

please, please get them a carbon monoxide detector. -- all I can say.

For their own safety and state of mind, please buy one of these. It

may save their lives. Even as a Christmas present. You do not know

what to buy people, get their gas appliances fixed and serviced. Get

them checked out, because it could save their lives. The bodies of

Lesley Ann Pamela Cox were discovered on Sunday. They are also

thought to be victims of carbon monoxide poisoning. Flowers cover

the drive of their home. Today, in response to the tragedy, the Essex

fire service urged everyone to get carbon monoxide monitors.

Four men have been charged with manslaughter after the death of a

man outside Churchill's Bar in Southend. The 37-year-old was found

with serious head injuries in June. The men will appear before

magistrates later this month. The death of a Red Arrows pilot has

led to the temporary grounding of Tornado jets based in Norfolk.

Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham died this week when his ejector

seat activated on the ground. The Tornado jets are fitted with the

same type of seat. Next the story of Kiera, a seven-

year-old prone to outbursts of violence. It is down to a medical

condition so rare that only six people and the world are known to

have it. She lives in Ipswich and her family say coping is a daily

struggle. That is why they are appealing for backing to help her.

This is Kiera. When we first meet, she is shy of the camera but soon

she is talkative and polite. How does this switch to best? Stop! --

switch to this. Mahseer bears the bruises. She took the child in as a

baby and adopted her. But her condition means that three parts of

her brain are underdeveloped, so there is a whole host of learning

problems and that uncontrollable anger at this book of the switch.

Some days she is not a pleasure. -- at the flick of a switch. She can

be so aggressive and volatile. But there is no medication that can

come her down. You have to learn to live with that. She wants to create

a wet room and a safe from at their council home. The cost would be

around �30,000 but funding has proved elusive. Extra money has

been secured in the classroom. Here, two teaching assistants are on hand

to help her. The school is fully aware of the pressures that the

family is facing. I have been working with the family since Kiera

came into the school. We talk of the day. I have seen the pressures

that she is under an they are enormous. I wish there was someone

they could help. Because I do not seem to get anywhere with her. I

have been to all the medical people and what have you, and we'll sit

around the table and they say that they're going to do this but

nothing ever happens. The school is the only support that I have,

really. With that frustration comes a determination to fight on. A

fund-raising charity ball will take place later this month.

Henry Bellingham is calling for new waste schemes to be discussed after

plans for a King's Lynn incinerator were thrown into chaos. The

Environment Secretary said yesterday that she will not release

a grant of �169 million for the project because of the scale of

local opposition. Campaigners have held several protests to try to

stop it. The new facility is plans to produce electricity and burn

waste. Steve Roberts, a football coach

from Suffolk has won the gold award for his online training videos. So

far, 40,000 people have watched his videos online.

Football is my passion. It is something I have been doing all my

life. Meet the coach who is taking the web by storm. Steve Roberts is

from Bury St Edmunds. He has just been crowned one of YouTube's next

trainers. We are going to test out your balance. Tapped the side of

the ball. What you see online is also taught in Suffolk. I wanted to

see if it could work for me. Keep the ball close. He does a to a

clear overwhelming. I could not imagine what start and when I

started uploading the videos. The response has been fantastic. -- I

could not imagine what happened. claims that the videos are for all

abilities. Maybe that is why they had been used 17.6 million times.

He runs the St our skills school. As a father, he knows how to get

the most from his pupils. Not only teaching fancy footwork, but a good

attitude and respect. And it is paying off. Some of these

youngsters have caught the eye of League clubs. He makes me really

good and he can show me everything in the world. Mr Roberts has won a

global Ward, does that make you feel proud? Very proud. His prize,

new filming kit and his work promoted to the hundreds of

First it was Greece. Now it is Italy. The crisis in the Eurozone

is still dominating the news but there is another battle about to

begin in Europe over the EU budget. Brussels is asking for a 5%

increase in member contributions but many countries say it should be

making cuts. One of our Euro-MPs has caused a stir by claiming that

the EU could save millions by cutting down on bureaucracy.

This report from Brussels. Is this the latest example of EU

waste? For Parliament in Brussels has just spent 20 million euros on

a visitor centre. If that is not enough, it also plans to open a

museum to celebrate European democracy. In the eyes of many

Eurosceptics, this is just the latest proof that the bureaucracy

of Parliament is out of control. parliament is about its members but

actually, this Parliament is about its officials. There are over 6000

of them. Over 50% have increased in the last five or six years. They

work out of 62 different buildings, double the number they had 10 years

ago. Mr Van Orton has always felt strongly about waste which is why

he has set up a think-tank to reduce the budget. Very quickly,

you could save several hundred million. With a bit more effort,

you could save nearly half a billion. The report says that

ending the month we move to Strasbourg would save 200 million

euros, cutting back on translation another hundred. He questions why

Parliament spends millions on into the Asian offices and a TV channel

with just 60,000 subscribers. -- millions on information offices.

Democracy thrives on dialogue with the public. They are not receiving

the reportage that they need. And that they deserve. Parliament has

announced a freeze in allowances but the Tories, along with Labour

and UKIP, say that in a time of austerity, they should be doing

more. It is worth remembering that the cost of running this place

amounts to 1% of the entire EU budget. If the European Union is

going to make serious savings, it will not be here, but Mr Van Orton

believes that cutting back on bureaucracy would at least be an

important gesture. On the Politics Show this week, we

will be finding out what the region's Europe MPs make of the

European crisis and what it means for Britain's role in Europe.

A documentary about the Battle of the Somme will be screened in our

region for the first time this weekend. It will be shown in

Norwich on Remembrance Sunday. We have been watching a film which

could change the way that we think The documentary was filmed in the

early days of summer 1916. A caption refers to platoons of

Bedfords and Suffolks moving up on the evening before the attack. It

was a propaganda film. When it was released, an estimated 20 million

people saw it. Today, the documentary is that helping to

change the way that historian's view the battle. The image we used

to have of lions led by donkeys, of the generals being butchers who

were unconcerned by what was going on, it does not fit with the

reality. The generals involved were learning how to fight this form of

modern industrial warfare. We see the Battle of the Somme as part of

a learning curve for the British Armed Forces. Eight terribly costly

learning curve that involved immense human suffering but not a

complete waste. It is believed one sequence of British soldiers going

over the top was recreated for the cameras, but that is only a small

part of the film. On the first day of the battle, the British suffered

60,000 casualties, 20,000 dead. Was it a waste? John Wickham describes

the Somme as useless slaughter. He fought in the Norfolk Regiment

during the Second World War. The regiment lost thousands of men at

the Somme. I should not have said useless. It achieved its result in

the end, but as an old soldier, I feel that many lives were lost

unnecessarily. The film is being shown at Cinema City in Norwich,

part of the reels of history series. The screening is a reminder of the

sacrifice made by so many at the Battle of the Somme.

Battle of the Somme. And to the weather.

Good evening. A cloudy day across much of the area. I want to start

off by showing you the Sun said yesterday. This is a picture taken

at Bradwell Creek in Essex. As we go through tonight, there is a lot

of cloud coming in from the east. Low pressure down to the south-west

pushing France into central and western parts. This area of high

pressure continues to hold. It is going to push quite a bit of cloud

towards us through the night. That big area of cloud edging into the

West. That will cover the region by the end of the night. Bring us

patchy drizzle overnight, rather cloudy and wild but that drizzle

coming in as we go through the night. Clear intervals at first but

a lot of cloud and light showers across the Midlands. As we go

through the night, the patchy light rain will spread in. Mist patches

towards the end of the night. Low temperatures tonight. It will be

quite mild, 10 and 11 near the coast. Colder inland. The wind will

pick up as we go through the morning. Four tomorrow itself, we

will begin with a cloudy start. Some drizzle at first. By the

afternoon, the top temperatures at 1213. -- at 12 or 13. It will

brighten up for a time in the afternoon but as we go into the

evening, it will cloud back over. Patchy rain spreading in from the

West. That will dampen down the ground. That front will push away

to the north. If we look at the outlook, there will be a little bit