20/01/2014 Look East - West

She bled to death in a hospital bed. A mother calls for Kettering General

to publish in full its own inquiry into the death of her daughter. All

this will be forgotten. Everyone else will forget it, but as a

family, we will not. We resign, two Tories quit the party after 40

years' service over an election row in Cambridgeshire.

Good news for chocolate lovers, researchers here in the East claim

it cuts the risk of diabetes. And a movie premiere with a

difference, for this war veteran. First tonight, a hospital where a

teenager bled to death, unnoticed on a ward, has refused to share further

details about the incident. Victoria Harrison was days away from her 18th

birthday when she had her appendix removed at Kettering General. The

following morning, she was found dead in bed. The hospital

investigated what happened, but says it won't make that information

public because of concerns for staff. Now Victoria's mother and her

local MP are calling for full and immediate disclosure.

A teenager who was full of life gone forever because our hospital

made mistakes. Victoria's mother says she does not want those who

treated her daughter named and shamed. But their mistakes should be

known. The new mistakes were made. If you haven't had your blood

pressure down for half an hour after your operation, ask for it to be

done. If you are given medication and you have not had your blood

pressure done, ask for your blood pressure to be done, keep an eye on

yourselves. Victoria Harrison lead to death after an everyday

operation. The hospital found the field her in more than 14 different

ways, but by whom and how will not be made public. A coroner concluding

the Tory chances of survival were reduced by failures, missed

opportunities and poor communication at the hospital. This, their

reaction after the inquest. Victoria's death led to a very

thorough and serious incident investigation being carried out by

this hospital. That investigation, it identified a number of

recommendations and led to some disciplinary action. As a result,

the hospital has made some significant changes, practice and

patient care. This is the original statement, releasing more

information, they say, the risk staff identifying and put more

stress on people that have already been through the inquest and their

investigation. They fear it could endanger the mental health of

staff. What stress are we going through? Our stress will never end.

In a year's time, they will have moved on, maybe to a different

department, different hospital, this will be forgotten. Everyone else

will forget, but as a family, we will march. The hospital say they

have an open and transparent from the start. As in most questions put

to them by the BBC. The family say they have forgiven the hospital but

mistakes here can never take another young life again.

The campaign for the freedom and says it is surprised by the reason

given by the hospital. The family's MP is Andy Sawford. He says hospital

transparency is important, but that Kettering General isn't withholding

all of these details from the public. Of course, a lot of this was

in the coroner's enquiry, a lot of this was looked at them, and the

coroner made some clear recommendations, but some of the

care was lacking at Kettering General and in this case, with very

tragic consequences. We also know there are regular inspections at the

hospital and they have identified some problems. But I am working with

the hospital to try and address those. There is a new leadership

team at the hospital and I think that we ought to recognise the

progress that has been made. That will be of no comfort, I understand,

to Victoria, `` to Victoria is my family. I understand why they want

this to be in the public domain and what people to know what has

happened. I want to understand from the hospital what further

information remains to be put into the public domain that has not team

put there are so far. But I understand they have a duty of care

to their employees, and we do have to respect that. At the same time as

`` at the same time, urging them to be as transparent as possible.

No`one is asking for a witchhunt, Wiktoria Popiel mother does not want

people to lose their jobs. But we expect total transparency from

hospitals now. People are worried about what they might be hiding I

understand that. I have had a lot of dealings with the hospital. Most

people get very good care from Kettering General. I get lots of

letters from people, asking me to pass on the thanks to local health

care staff. When something goes wrong, I want to see the hospital

respond to the lessons. They have told me there was a detailed action

plan, they have looked at all the recommendations that came from the

coroner's enquiry, but if there is more to be done and more information

to be put in the public domain, Wiktoria Popiel family can rest

assured that as the local MP, I will be following this up.

Next tonight, a serial killer from Peterborough was ecstatic and jumped

around like a school girl when she learned she was wanted by police.

That's what a court has been told today. Joanna Dennehey has admitted

killing three men and attempting to murder two others. Details of her

killing spree are emerging in the trial of two men accused of helping

her cover up her crimes. This is the knife used by serial

killer Joanna Dennehy, the image released this evening after the

fourth day of evidence against two men accused of helping out, Gary

Stretch and Leslie Layton. The three murder victims, John Chapman, Kevin

Lee and Lukasz Slaboszewski, found them in ditches. The main focus

today was when she left Peterborough after the killings and headed with

Gary Stretch for Hereford, where she attacked two men, walking their

dogs. One of them said he was on the back of a car driven by Gary

Stretch, who was selecting victims for Joanna Dennehy to attack. He

wanted to call the police but did not have the chance. He said Joyner

had said she wanted to have her fun. She left the car and stabbed a man,

he said it was like something in a film. Then, she smiled and kissed

Gary Stretch. Then, she struck again, he said it was frenzied, she

went mad. She returned to the car with the victim's terrified dog in

our hands. Earlier, the jury heard how well on the run, she stayed at a

friend's place in Kings Lynn. Georgina Page said Joanna Dennehy

told her she and Gary Stretch were like Bonnie and Clyde. Georgina Page

called her mad cow for claiming to have killed eight people. She said

she was ecstatic and jumping around on seeing a report that she and Gary

Stretch were wanted by the police. Tonight, fresh images released

Joanna Dennehy shortly before the attacks, taken on a stolen camera.

Gary Stretch also posing for the camera. The pictures are shown to

jurors. Stretched and two counts of attempted murder for some he and

Leslie Layton the night preventing lawful burial of bodies. And Leslie

Layton, one count of perverting the course of justice.

Two long`standing members of the Tory Party in Cambridgeshire have

resigned, saying the party no longer shares their values of democracy and

integrity. It comes after the Conservatives chose to stick with

Lucy Frazer as their candidate for the next general election, despite

claims she didn't win the most votes during the selection process. Ben

Bland reports. Lucy Frazer, seen here at a public

vote in December, where she was chosen to rappers and southeastern

which are Conservatives at the next general election, but it emerged

there had been a mistake and another candidate had got more votes. At an

emergency meeting, the majority of local members voted to keep her as

the candidate. Not everyone attended the meeting was happy about it. Look

East understands a number of senior Conservatives in Cambridge called

for the contest to be rerun. One of them said it was so important that

the cost was an issue, he would pay for it from his own pocket. It has

upset some long`standing members of the party. Peter Johnson has been a

councillor in Wisbech for eight years, but he has left the Tories

because of this. If there is a doubt, surely it should have been

rerun. That was my opinion. So they decided they would not do that. I

thought, I cannot go along with this. It does not display what I

stand for. Honesty, integrity and Chrissy. I did not see those values

being displayed. Colin Barker has been approached Conservative for 40

years. He has now also quit. We have become a laughing stock. We have

continued to compound that by trying to actually justify a decision which

is not tenable. The Conservative Party says this is a matter for the

local association. The Chairman has said in a statement the overwhelming

vote for Lucy at the emergency meeting means they can put this

behind them. Some may see this as an internal political squabble, but

this is about a candidate who could end up as the MP for tens of

thousands of people after the general election.

Ben joins us now. How significant is it for the Tory Party that

grassroots supporters are so angry about this election?

Well, I spoke to those two men, I got the sense that they were very

angry about this. They have both been lifelong Conservatives, so for

them to quit over this gives you a sense of how upset they are. The

reason it is significant is that these are people sit at home and

then once a year, go out and cast their votes, that like these are

not, they go knocking door`to`door, but leaflets through letter boxes,

and the kinds of things that get people out to vote and help secure

victory. Toulouse activists like them is really a blow. It seems what

Willie upset them, as is often the case, is not the initial mistake

itself, although it has been handled afterwards. These are people who

sell the party to others. What is the wider impact on the Tory Party

in Kimmeridge? But it might this is not the kind of distraction they

want, just a few months before the European elections and local council

elections and certainly not where they are now, just over a year until

the general election. It is most a gift to opposition parties, who

could potentially put to this row and argue the Conservative candidate

was not chosen fairly. Even though there is no fault on Lucy Frazer's

part, this argument could dog her throughout her campaign. Never mind

the opposition, those activist I spoke to said they do not think we

have heard the last of this yet An extra accident and emergency ward

has opened in Harlow, to cope with any sudden influx of patients this

winter. The extension at the Princess Alexandra Hospital took

nine weeks to build, at a cost of nearly ?3 million. It's been funded

by a government grant to deal with winter illnesses. Those other top

Stuart and Susie to bring you the Stuart and Susie to bring you the

a favourite on BBC Essex. She's taking over the breakfast show from

previous presenter Terry Baxter. Still to come tonight, the war hero

from Suffolk, who was given his very own movie premiere.

Plus the athlete from Milton Keynes booked today for the Winter

Olympics. We chocolate lovers got some good

news today. Researchers at the University of East Anglia say the

ingredients in chocolate and tea can ward off diabetes.

But before you go reaching for a box of your favourite soft centres, the

researchers say they are talking about dark chocolate in small

quantities. In a moment, the professor who led the research.

That's after this from Mike Liggins. Tom Trett was diagnosed with type

two diabetes 17 years ago and since then it's been a daily struggle to

keep his sugar levels right. He checks them six six times a day and

inject insulin twice a day. Frustration is the main thing, you

are never on top of it all of the time, you get days your blood

glucose readings are particularly high and there is no real reason.

Today, researchers offer people like Tom some comfort. In a survey, they

found ingredients and berries, tea and, yes, chocolate could help guard

against diabetes. They say eating high levels of flava nine is a good

thing and at the Kinnerton chocolate factory in Norfolk, this comes as no

surprise. It is fantastic news. Being a chocolate manufacturer, I

would say that. And if it is part of a healthy, balanced diet, it is good

news for the consumer. It is about eating healthily, which should be

the same but everybody. That is the key word. I do not eat any special

diabetic food. The charity, Diabetes UK, said the findings need to be

interpreted with caution, and even if...

But for people with diabetes, like Tom Trett, any step forward, no

matter how small, is to be warmly welcomed.

The good news about chocolate comes from Aedin Cassidy. She is a

professor at the UEA. And this is about prevention, not a cure?

Absolutely. We want to focus on people eating more fruit and

vegetables and, in particular, berries seem to be particularly

important. As part of a healthy diet, no question that small amounts

of red wine, moderate amounts of dark chocolate, may help. And this

is the red colour in the vegetables and fruits? Right, the contained

powerful bioactive ingredients. And there was one class that are

responsible for that lovely red, blue coloured you get in black

currants, strawberries, blueberries, for example. So a red apple might

happen, angry man will not? Green apple will not? Absolutely. And can

I gorge on these to help? We look at people who had tiny amounts, against

people who had low levels, against high levels. And some berries seem

to be connected to better controls of blood sugar levels and blood

pressure. And presumably you will need to have a controlled experiment

to see this the truth? With funding, we have a large trial starting at

UEA medical school, and we are looking for local volunteers who are

generally healthy, overweight, aged between 50 and 75, so contact us as

we would love to have a trial looking at different doses of

berries over six months and look at the effects. Getting lots of diet

chocolate and wine? Unfortunately not, this will just look at berries.

Fascinating and important, thank you very much. Thank you.

Three weeks from now, the Winter Olympics. In such a Russia. `` the

Winter Olympics will begin in Russia. Craig Pickering from Milton

Keynes is set to join an exclusive club of British athletes who have

competed at both a summer and winter Olympics. He'll be part of Britain's

four`man bobsleigh team. They're the ones that race down an icy slope at

enormous speed. Craig learnt of his qualification this weekend. Starts

in three weeks. It's agony when your Olympic place

depends on someone else. Craig Pickering's chances of an Olympic

place depended on the B team's qualifications time. But a last`

minute tactical change of crew meant, instead of thundering behind

the Bobsleigh, he was left watching and waiting in the Austrian air. The

tactic paid off. Pickering is bound for Russia. It's been a very tough

couple of weeks. We could have clinched qualification a number of

times that we've just missed out. So it has come down to the wire. It was

difficult for us not being involved in that team. But thank God, the

team pulled together and did it for us, really. We are over the moon.

Pickering will be just the third Briton to have competed at both a

summer and winter Olympics. A former sprinter, he raced in Beijing in

2008. He will now apply the brakes for Britain in the second Bobsleigh

crew in Sochi. I try and divide it into two separate things. So there

is the first thing is my job. That is hitting the Bobsleigh as hard as

I can and running with it and then jumping in. The second aspect is

where I am very passive. So I just keep my head down and hope it goes

OK. So, for me, I just tend to focus on the first bit. And not be scared

of the second bit, which is where you are probably going to crash.

Pickering's power and physicality honed from athletics has helped. His

nerves, though, have had to play catch up. He described his first run

down an ice chute a year ago like being on a roller`coaster on acid.

What does it mean to you that that's led has not into the Olympics? Well,

I'll be going to the Olympics now. And that is why I do sport. I've

been to one Olympic Games. To go to another one is fantastic. I am so

happy. Craig was hoping to form part of Britain's A team bob. Instead, he

is the B team brakeman, but still making history.

The price of domestic energy has become one of the big political

talking points. And it doesn't look like going away. Latest figures show

the average cost of heating a home has risen to ?1200 pounds a year.

These are so`called passive houses. They are near Saffron Walden. The

heating bills here are around one`tenth of those of a normal

house. Tonight's edition of Inside Out is taking a look at them in the

company of their architect Chris Parsons. He's here now. What makes

them so special? They are built to a much higher quality than we would

normally expect. We addressed the five major factors which affect

energy performance. For example, we will address installation, thermal

bridging, air leakage, and we try to design so that we can make the best

use of occupancy and solar gains. Those combined will provide an

energy efficient dwelling. Explain how you keep your home? You do not

need to use fuel at all in some cases? You can get away with very

small amounts of fuel, or none whatsoever. We make the best use of

occupancy games, so televisions, computers, cooking, people

themselves giving about 100 watts... Heating your home yourself?

Yes, and we design the windows to make best use of solar gains,

getting used from the sun, keeping that within the fabric of the

building. But these kind of houses cost more, putting people off,

because they have to cough up quite a bit more upfront? They do cost

more, better in solution, high`quality doors and windows. But

the running costs are so significantly low that the payback

period is very short. How do we compare with the continent? How many

of these houses are being built here compare to the continent? The

standard is Passivhaus, originating in 1999 in Europe. Thousands have

been built in Europe, but we have about 150 in the UK, although

growing quickly, but quite slow and catching up. Briefly, do you think

this is the kind of house we will live on in 50 years time? I do. The

standards are increasing and the government is putting as under

pressure to produce better buildings, but we are ahead of the

curve with the Passivhaus standard. Thank you very much.

And there's more on energy saving, and on the people who prefer to

steal their energy from other people, on Inside Out. That's

tonight on BBC One at 7:30pm. Next tonight, an unusual movie

premiere. When actors Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman recently posed for

pictures on the red carpet, there was someone missing. Their film, The

Railway Man, tells the story of wartime prisoners of war forced to

build the so`called Death Railway. Roland Baker from Suffolk was one of

those POWs. And when the movie had its premiere in London, he was

invited. But at 93, the journey was a bit too much. So instead of him

heading to the red carpet, the red carpet came to him.

It wasn't quite Leicester Square, but it was the next best thing. The

Regal Cinema in Stowmarket just a few miles from Roland Baker 's home

held its own premiere of this new film. And who better to be VIP on

what was his 93rd birthday? The girl said, you couldn't get to London to

the red carpet. We will bring the red carpet to Stowmarket. And they

did. And I met with the Mayoress of Stowmarket as well. And they got you

a cake? Yeah, a big cake, yes. I've still got some in the kitchen.

I've never been to the Highlands before. So suddenly, finding myself

single again... The film stars Colin Firth and

Nicole Kidman and is based on the bestselling book by Eric Lomax about

the POWs who worked on the Thai`Burma railway as captives

during the Second World War. Roland, known as Rolly, served with the

Suffolk Regiment and endured three and a half years of brutal treatment

at the hands of the Japanese. He weighed around 11 stone at the

start. Just half that by the end. Very tough. Lost 648 of our two

regiments. They died on that railway. Disease, you know. And you

got rice and boiled water. Three and a half years. We buried 30 in one

day in the camp one dinner time. 30 dead. Yeah. Roland says the film

stirred emotions. And, from other guests at the screening, a

recognition of what these men enjoyed. Just ordinary blokes. But

extraordinary blokes. They never want to talk about it. They just

want to have fun and tell you stories. Funny stories and things

like that. Good old British, you know. Roland still has a map showing

the railway and the graves of the comrades they lost. More than 6000

men died. The key thing he says is that people don't forget.

Remarkable story. Now for the weather.

It was quite chilly this morning. And and for many winter sunshine.

High cloud turning the sunshine a bit hazy, although Norfolk stayed

misty all day. Mist, Mark and Fog is the feature of tonight. Likely to

form quite bravely. Some fog quite dense. Likely to be freezing in some

places as well. These are the lows in towns and cities, but possibly

minus one off two in rural spots. That means frost and some icy

patches on the roads. Tomorrow, a front moves slowly towards us. That

means the rain associated should not reach as until Wednesday night.

Tomorrow looking dry. But it looks like the mist and fought for some

could linger through the morning. Eventually slowly lifting into low

cloud. And some others might be some brightness and sunshine, but on the

whole, we expect cloudy skies. Underneath that cloud, it will feel

chilly. At best, temperatures are around six Celsius. But we have the

fog lingers tomorrow morning, temperatures here actually could

stay a few degrees lower, struggling above three Celsius. The wind

becoming stronger, but still light, southerly in direction, bringing in

some dried air, possibly lifting the cloud, but a lot around still. Into

Wednesday, it looks like the front eventually pushes in from the West,

bringing outbreaks of the rain, so I cloudy start, outbreaks of rain,

some brightness and rain in the west of the region on Wednesday, and then

drying out and becoming brighter, but all depending on how quickly the

rain pushes off to the North Sea. We expected to be cloudy in the East,

with continuing rain for much of the day. I was late `` Thursday largely

cloudy with rain. A cold and frosty start on Friday, then largely

financed right, but later on, possibly after dark, we expect wet

and windy weather to move in, and it could turn to sleet and snow for a

time, something we are keeping an eye on.

Well done. Your voice held out! LAUGHTER. That is all from all of

us. The night. `` good night.