21/02/2017 Look East

The Justice Secretary apologise to the family of a man who killed

himself in Chelmsford prison. The effect of bird flu. And to the

simple wooden frame may be helping alleviate the suffering of people

with MS. First tonight, the parents of a man

who killed himself in prison say they have been given

an apology, at last, from Justice Secretary,

Elizabeth Truss. Dean Saunders was mentally ill

when he electrocuted himself An inquest jury ruled

that there were serious failings in both the mental health

and prison systems. For the family of Dean Saunders,

a meeting with the Secretary of State for Justice

is what they have wanted since the day they found

out their son had died in prison. Before the meeting, the parents said

they were seeking assurances, from Liz Truss that the prison

system would be reformed. I am angry it has not been

done many inquests ago. I want to know why they have

left it so long and just I want assuring that it is not just

going to be new measures put in, but that they are actually

going to be followed Dean Saunders was

a stay-at-home dad. After a paranoid episode,

he attempted to take his own life. His father tried to stop him

and was injured in the process. Dean was arrested and processed

through the criminal justice system. Whilst in Chelmsford Prison,

he took his own life. The inquest discovered that neglect

contributed to his death. A jury said there were serious

failings in both mental health care Mark and Donna Saunders went

into the meeting today wanting more than just money invested

into the prison system. They came out with an apology and

assurances that that the mistakes which led to his death

would not be repeated. When we detailed Dean's

case and pointed out all the failings, Liz Truss said,

"Yes, we agree." Now, we just need

to see the actions. We have made repeated

attempts to contact The family tell me

they were happy with the promises made

in today's meeting. They believe that if these promises

are followed through, it will improve the prison system,

especially for those with There has been an angry reaction

in North Norfolk over plans to withdraw beds

from two health units. Tonight the local MP, Norman Lamb,

claimed there had been He is seeking an urgent meeting

with the health commissioners. Our chief reporter Kim

Riley is in Cromer now. Yes, he believes the commissioning

group could be in breach of the duty by not consulting properly on this.

The long-term future of both the units has been unclear for some

time. Now they have served notice that the plan to cease funding bids

in both units in favour of a new model called supporting Kia. He says

people are having these changes foisted upon them.

I would have preferred for them to come to us to talk us

through what they are proposing, before suddenly announcing that

notice has been served on these beds.

I do not think it is the best way of doing it.

Critically, let's make sure we involve local people in

decisions about services which are really important to them.

What has the commissioning group had to say?

They have made it clear that they have no plans to close either of the

units. They see they want them to be a saving focal point of the

community within a joined up health care system. There is a feeling

locally that these changes have been rushed through.

An expert in bird migration has told Look East today

that bird flu is something we are going to have

It is nearly three months since poultry flocks were shut indoors.

Next week, birds in some places will be allowed out,

while others in so-called high risk areas will have to stay inside.

It is an industry which has been in lockdown since December.

Thousands of birds potentially at risk from

the potentially deadly strain of bird flu carried by wild birds.

If poultry has to stay indoors beyond the end of this month,

many producers fear they will lose their free-range status.

Last week, confirmation of the first case in the region

on a farm near Redgrave in Suffolk. 23,000 chickens were culled.

Government vets believe that farms closest to bodies of water,

like this one, remain at the greatest risk from bird flu.

Well, this estuary attracts large numbers of wild birds.

The ministry believe ducks are one of the most important carriers

From the end of this month, the government says it will take

Subject to certain conditions, birds in the white areas on this map

But those on the red areas, close to bodies of water,

will have to remain indoors, as will birds in the protection

and surveillance zone around the Redgrave outbreak.

But many farmers are unconvinced by the new guidance,

arguing there is no science behind the new advice and that no

Dr Andy Musgrove is from the British Trust for Ornithology.

I asked him which wild birds are the most likely carriers.

The general assumption is that migrating water birds have played

The difficult point about this is that many of

these migrating birds are unlikely to go anywhere near a poultry farm.

So, there may be something else moving between the water birds

Do you have any view on this patchwork of restrictions,

because if wild birds are playing a part in the spread of bird flu,

The patchwork that you refer to has been created by

the team at Defra, based on information about where high

concentrations of wild migrating water birds are.

Of course, that does not mean there is an absolute chance

of infection within the zones and an absolute zero

Do you think this is something we're going to

Bird flu except is simply going to be something

which happens within nature in this country?

Farming has always had to deal with interaction

So, to some extent, bird flu will come and go in the

level of importance on the strength of the virus and its effect, but

yes, I expect it will be with us for quite some time to come.

A simple wooden frame that allows people with multiple

sclerosis to stand up is being tested in this region.

It costs just a few hundred pounds, but some people say it has

At the moment, the frame is not available on the NHS.

So, a physiotherapist from Norfolk is setting up a national trial

Our health reporter Nikki Fox visited one patient,

A simple wooden frame, but one which is making a real

difference to the lives of Brenda and Rick.

She was diagnosed with MS six years into the marriage.

Last year, she could not walk, but the addition of

this wooden frame has made all their change.

I am able to feel my body again, not just been slumped in a chair.

It has made me feel a normal person again.

The frames cost ?500 and are used in the NHS

But for them to be made available to MS sufferers, they have

That is why a clinician is doing a project involving 70 sufferers

We want to use interventions which have been effective.

The only way we can do that is to conduct this random trial.

The couple travelled a lot in the marriage.

Last year, they had to cancel a cruise because Brenda could

But thanks to the frame improving her muscle strength, the

Coming up now, the weather with Alex.

But from the rest of the late team, goodnight.

Good evening. Cloud Across much of the region. Should stay dry, but

there could be the odd spot of rain to the West. Temperatures in double

figures by the start of tomorrow morning. Already a mild start. It

will stay that way during the day, despite the rain and the cloud. This

band of rain could get stuck, so it could be rather wet through most of

the day if you are in the middle of that. The National weather coming

up, the day, particularly up towards the

evening rush hour. It calms down on the Outlook toward the end of the

week and then milder again from the wheel them. More on storm Doris now

with Matt Taylor.