26/11/2013 Midlands Today

That is all from BBC News At Six, I will be back with more

become the technical home for more than 40 local TV channels. Hello and

welcome to Midlands Today. The headlines tonight: Three nurses are

suspended at Stafford hospital over concerns about care given to an

elderly patient. There was one patient who was overlooked for some

time and clearly that is something neither the trust nor I or anyone

would find acceptable. We'll be asking what impact this could have

on the confidence among patients at Stafford, also tonight: Landing new

jobs ` the maintenance hangar Birmingham Airport hopes will boost

business. Already we have recruited 150 highly

skilled engineers with a view to another 150. Nine leisure centres

and pools to close in Birmingham ` six new centres will be built and

run privately. Why giving birth to this rare

Suffolk punch was a big ask for Mum. And you may have been cranking up

the heating now that winter's approaching, but for a brief time at

least there seems to be some relief in sight. More on that later.

Good evening. Three nurses have been suspended from their jobs at

Stafford Hospital over concerns about the care given to an elderly

patient earlier this month. The hospital has confirmed it relates to

an incident on the15th of November and says the concerns were reported

by other nursing staff. The Hospital Trust has confirmed it launched an

"immediate investigation" and is keeping the patient's family

informed. Here's our Health Correspondent Michele Paduano.

In the dark days of Stafford hospital, it was care for the

elderly that lay at the root of the problem. Neglect was made worse by

nursing shortages. The town's MP's established here staffing wasn't an

issue. There were the correct number of staff and correct qualifications

for the staff and patients at the time but it is simply a matter that

was one patient who was overlooked. The nursing director Colin Ovington

has met the family of the elderly patient. The hospital would provide

no further details. Its statement said the incident was reported

quickly by nursing staff. Three members of staff who were on duty at

the time has been suspended while an immediate investigation is carried

out. The campaigners who fought to keep services local will have seen

standards improve. This comes weeks before a decisions made about the

hospitals future. It is disappointing that the staff have

acted in the right way, the hospital have acted appropriately and we all

have to wait to see what the investigation holds. It must be

remembered suspension is a neutral act and mangers at Stafford will be

absolutely scrupulous because of the hospitals past. And Michele joins us

now from outside Stafford Hospital. What happens now in a case like

this? Well, the investigation will take

statements from all of those involved and somebody, probably the

nursing director will decide if there was a case to answer and a

panel will be convened. The unions say there is no timescale when that

will take pace and it could drag on. If somebody is dismissed, there is

an appeals process which will be next year before we have an outcome.

What effect does this have on patient confidence? Well, this town

is polarised, there are people who can see no wrong in this hospital,

others would like to dismantle it brick by brick. For most people,

they should see this as one incident in a hospital that statistically has

been improving. This is Stafford Hospital, Stafford Hospital which

around the globe is synonymous with bad care and care that was appalling

amongst the elderly. The issue now is how it plays out in the PR world

and it will be difficult for them to recover. Coming up later in the

programme marking a safe return from Afghanistan, with an historic

homecoming in Warwickshire. A huge new aircraft hangar has been

officially opened at Birmingham Airport today. The new facility can

accommodate almost every type of aircraft in the world. As well as

creating 150 new jobs, it's hoped it'll help attract valuable business

and more airlines to the airport. Here's our transport correspondent

Peter Plisner. A special fly`past today to mark the

opening of the new hangar. A multi`million pound investment and

major expansion for one of Birmingham's leading airlines. This

is a huge facility, behind me a Boeing 757, the sort of jet that

takes us on holiday. You can fit six in here, the size of four football

pitches and the only facility that can house the new Boeing Dreamliner.

So why choose Birmingham to site the new facility ` according to Monarch

it's a perfect place to expand. Our airline is a key operator at

Birmingham Airport, this part of the country is renowned for engineering

skills providing a future proofed line of succession for business. And

it's also meant new jobs, with more to come in the future. Engineer

Richard Froggatt is one of those lucky enough to work here. It is

exciting because you are coming in at the start of moving into

Birmingham so it is good to get in at grassroots. The arrival of the

Hangar has also help boost the local economy. This Coventry firm supplied

compressors to the new facility. With the high profile of this

customer, it has a knock on effect. We have employed an extra two

people, we are investing in more vehicles, we are expanding the

offices, everything is moving forward. So good news all round at

an airport that after a tough recession is finally taking off.

With me now is Paul Kehoe, the Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport. How

much extra money will this bring to your coffers? Well, in the short

term, we have done a fantastic deal to make the deal work. When we see

more aeroplanes, we have counted the money coming in from the Knight

aircraft but the visiting air planes will bring some money in. So, you

need to attract more airlines. Yes, and this will do that. How confident

are you, BA and virgin are not interested. No, they have their own

facilities but Mama have got contracts in place and we will see

the Boeings come here. They are servicing the aeroplane so the

future is bright and Mama have done a fantastic job to get where they

are today in nine months. Which airlines are we talking about? The

airlines like Thompson, Monarch, maybe some easyJet. You might see

some of the aeroplanes with a runway extension, Bangladesh with a new

Boeing and that aeroplane could be maintained in Birmingham. Exciting

possibilities. Mononoke have not shared all their details but they

are confident and they are confident in the facility. The response from

customers is exceptional. Can you clarify the number of jobs because

we said 150 new jobs but some have been transferred from Luton. It is

150 jobs in Birmingham and apprenticeships, the aim is for 300

jobs. We have parachuted people in from Manchester and Luton and

Gatwick but these people are bringing new people on board, the

aim is 300 jobs by the end of next year with more apprentices. It is a

great news story from Birmingham. Nine leisure centres and swimming

pools have been earmarked for closure in Birmingham, to save

nearly seven million pounds. The City Council says it would be too

costly to repair the existing buildings. It plans to replace them

with six new leisure centres, which will be privately run. Bob

Hockenhull has the details. Campaigners have fought long and

hard to save Moseley Road Swimming Baths. But it looks like the end of

the line has finally come for the Edwardian building. It's one of nine

facilities due to close as Birmingham City Council needs to

save 6.8 million pounds from its leisure budget. I am disappointed

because it is popular in the community. Lots of people use these

barbs. There's been a big cup dashed public campaign and there are not

alternative facilities. If the plans are approved Moseley, one of the

oldest swimming baths in the country, will shut in September

2015. Part of it has already been moth balled. They have been shut for

ten years now, the seating area around the pool is considered unsafe

and the council say it's cheaper to build new facilities rather than

repair old ones. Under the council's proposals, eight other leisure

facilities across the city will close by April 2017. But they will

be replaced by six brand new centres at a cost of 36 million pounds.

They'll be privately run so the council says the investment will be

cheaper than trying to repair old buildings. We have a number of

swimming baths which are at the end of their life. The proposals we are

coming forward with will give us leisure facilities and swimming

facilities across the city in a geographical spread which gives

access to all residents. And to help deprived areas, the creation of six

so called well being centres has been announced. They'll offer advice

and practical help to produce what the council hopes will be a fitter

city. New figures suggest the number of additional deaths in the region

caused by cold weather rose dramatically last winter.

There were 1200 more deaths in the Midlands during the prolonged

cold`spell compared to the previous year. The majority of the deaths in

the winter of 2012 to 2013 were among pensioners with over`75s

accounting for more than eighty percent of them.

The Sutton Coldfield MP Andrew Mitchell has said the so`called

Plebgate affair destroyed his political career. The former Chief

Whip resigned from his post in the Cabinet last October after a row

broke out over exactly what he said to police officers at the entrance

to Downing Street. Earlier it was confirmed one Metropolitan Police

officer is to face criminal prosecution over his account of what

happened. My reputation was destroyed. I was vilified

relentlessly over 33 days with over 800 hate e`mails in the course of

that first week. I and my family were driven from our home with as

many as 20 journalists and photographers camped outside.

A 75`year`old man who was found lying in the road with serious

injuries in the Black Country is believed to have been the victim of

a hit and run. He was discovered on Beakes Road in Smethwick on Saturday

evening and was taken to hospital, but died of his injuries. Police say

they believe he was hit by a van or possibly a 4x4. They're appealing

for witnesses. History was made today when the

first battalion The Royal Regiment of fusiliers were granted the

freedom of an entire district in Warwickshire, following a homecoming

parade. The second battalion of the fusiliers is under threat of

closure, as part of the army cuts. But today's homecoming parade was

about celebrating the safe return of the regiment from Afghanistan. Joan

Cummins reports. The Fusiliers have been part of

Warwickshire for centuries. With its link to the Royal Warwickshire

Regiment, today hundreds lined the streets of Leamington to welcome

home 180 soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Royal Fusiliers on what

is hoped to have been a final tour of Afghanistan. I first deployed in

2006, to go back in 2013 to see the progress the security forces have

made is staggering. Hundreds have lined the streets to say thank you

to the Fusiliers, Regiment with a long tradition in Warwickshire. They

are doing a difficult job. You must support them. It brings a lump to

your throat. You want to cheer and shout. It is a big thing, what they

do. They protect everybody and look after people. Many of the Fusiliers

grew up here in the Midlands and today soldiers from Coventry and

Birmingham explained why homecoming marches are emotional experiences.

It is an amazing feeling, it feels like you have achieved something

which we have. It is a good feeling. It is a good experience and I am

glad I came back in one piece. You do get a proud feeling. It is nice

that you are appreciated for the job you do. It is good to know everyone

is supporting us. Regardless of changes taking place, the Fusiliers

will always have a place in the hearts of people in Warwickshire. It

is coming up to quarter to seven. This is our top story tonight: Three

nurses are suspended at Stafford hospital over concerns about care

given to an elderly patient. Your detailed weather forecast to

come shortly with Shefali ` also in tonight's programme honours even at

the Hawthorns, Aston Villa come from two goals down to share the points

with West Brom. And no ordinary foal, find out why Faith is packing

quite a punch. The Midlands has become the

technical home for a new generation of local digital television

stations. More than forty new local TV channels from across the country

could eventually be transmitted from a brand new high`tech centre in

Birmingham. Today Estuary TV, a local station for Grimsby, was the

first to go live and our science correspondent David Gregory`Kumar is

behind the scenes right now. So David how has it gone?

It has been almost two hours and they are still on air, it is going

swimmingly. This broadcast centre in Birmingham will pump out all the

UK's planned local TV stations and here in the Midlands our first local

TV station is likely to be City TV broadcasting to Birmingham, so when

might it launch? After that first tranche of new services, in the

Midlands Bromsgrove, Stoke`on`Trent, Stratford`upon`Avon and

Kidderminster all have plans for local stations. Lots of different

services. We are launching channels to appear on free view, terrestrial

television on channel eight in England and 26 in Wales and

Scotland. Most of the places that have local TV will launch on channel

eight. Hopefully, several services here, they are quite difference.

What is the advantage? The technology here and behind you is,

if we did not build it here would have to be built in every location

so at the moment there were 19 in the first wave and two got

licensed. That would be 21 different places to build the technology we

have here. By centralising it, it is more efficient and more cheap and

would provide a higher level of service than many of the stations

can for themselves. Thank you for talking to us. Other services will

also be coming online including Kidderminster next year. It is all

going swimmingly so far. It is always like that in TV! Sport now,

Ian's here and it really was a game of two halves at the Hawthorns last

night. For almost an hour it was a stroll in the park. Albion cruising

2`0 up. Villa, deflated. But that's when Paul Lambert launched his three

subs. And Steve Clarke's 2`goal cushion quickly sank without trace.

Honours even in the West Midlands Premier League derby, for the fourth

game running. This was the moment that turned the

derby upside down. It was a big call but they were fantastic. Villa had

played second fiddle. It was delivered in style by the

Republic of Ireland striker. The Albion fans were in dream land. This

mess was costly. It might have been game over. Contrasting emotions for

both managers but one knew something had to change. Within ten minutes,

Villa were back in the game. The gloves were off and so was the

jacket. The weather was cold but the comeback was hot. When Albion failed

to clear their lines, Ashley Westwood made the equaliser.

Thankfully it nestled in the bottom corner. To celebrate in the Derby

was special. He was excellent, his passing was excellent. And the goal

was a fantastic strike. The disappointment is we had good

control until midway in the second half. We allowed it to slip away.

When we go ahead, we need to control the game better. And to bet against

a fifth consecutive draw or they meet again in two months time and

Villa Park? Wolves could return to the top of league one against

Tranmere Rovers. Full coverage on the BBC local radio.

I did not hear your prediction last night, I was stuck in traffic. I

watched the first two goals. I gather you predicted a draw.

Yes, I fancied 3`3. It ended 2`2. Six games without a goal, worrying

for Villa. Within the next hour the BBC will reveal the ten names on the

short list to become Sports Personality of the Year. Possible

candidates from our region? Two names spring to mind. I'd be rather

surprised if the Wolves speedway rider Tai Woffinden isn't on the

list, after his success in becoming World Champion this year. But the

Warwickshire batsman Ian Bell must be a certainty. He scored 562 runs

against Australia including three centuries to help England retain the

Ashes. Talking of Warwickshire, they're changing their name? Yes,

next summer, they'll be called the Birmingham Bears but only in the new

NatWest t20 Blast tournament on Friday evenings, starting in May.

Every night this week we're introducing the five finalists in

our search to find the BBC Midlands Sports Unsung Hero. This evening

it's Colin Greetham who's been at the very heart of Sutton Coldfield

Cricket Club for more than twenty years. Nick Clitheroe has been to

meet him. It may not feel like the weather for cricket but you still

can't tear Colin Greetham away from his beloved square. His official

title is chairman at Sutton Coldfield cricket club but in

reality for the last 23 years Colin has been so much more. Coaching with

the adults, ladies and juniors and on top of that trying to manage the

club. I have looked after the ground but I am trying to step back a

little. I still like to put the lawn mower around. His main passion is

coaching and especially bringing through future generations of

players for the first team. That youth policy has really worked. This

summer they won the Premier Division of the Warwickshire Cricket league.

That team had an average age of just 19 and their successors are already

being lined up too. He is the heart of the club. I would not have

enjoyed it as much if it wasn't for him. He has made me love the sport

as much as he does. He is properly respected by everyone at the club.

Everybody likes to take advice of him. Cricket is a great game for

youngsters but it is a great game and I want people to share my

enthusiasm for it. And he hasn't stopped there. When the club decided

to start up a ladies team they were drifting along until Colin took a

hand. He took complete beginners, nobody could bowl a ball to cat is

playing competitive cricket. One of the ladies scored her first century

last year and that is down to his coaching. So whether it's at the

indoor winter nets or out on the square 69`year`old Colin Greetham is

at the heart of this club. Good luck to Colin. Tomorrow, we'll meet our

third finalist, that's Frank from Droitwich Spa.

She may be just six months old but already "Faith" has made her way

into the history books ` the equine history books that is. She's a rare

breed Suffolk punch ` they're the oldest breed of heavy horse in

Britain. But there are so few of them left, that one breeder in

Herefordshire has turned to surrogacy to help boost the numbers

.and along came Faith. Cath Mackie's been to meet her.

She's only a baby, and like many babies she likes to eat... And

eat... And play around, at home in Foy in Herefordshire. But Faith the

Suffolk punch filly, is far from ordinary. She has been born via the

embryo transplant route which is well tried among the profession but

not amongst heavy horses. It has never been done before with this.

Her birth mother is a former dressage horse. At six months old

little Faith has got the characteristics of the Suffolk

punch. You can see her lovely round belly, the little short legs and

lovely deep chestnut colour of her coat, but above all the lovely,

sweet natured temperament. They have the most marvellous temperament.

They like human beings. And it is a tragedy they are trying out. They

are dying out, rather, because we have no further use for them. Heavy

horses played an essential role in farming for centuries ` pulling

heavy machinery, and carts. But then mechanisation took over. Now there

are only 500 suffolk punch horses left worldwide, with just 200 mares

in the UK including Faith's natural mother Opal who gave birth herself

this year. What are they like? Fantastic, lovely. I wish I had been

here from the beginning of the project because it is so exciting.

Will you do this purely out of love because I assume there isn't much

money. No, no money whatsoever. It is out of love and to try and form a

small breeding herd ourselves. And the aim is to keep the breed alive.

In the future, hopefully Faith will help continue the line. She is

gorgeous. There was ice this morning. It is still technically

autumn. Winter is fast approaching, we should be there by December.

Autumn is not letting go without a fight. We have a brief burst of

milder air and that will lift temperatures slightly. You will

notice it during the night. It is down to warm fronts and sectors,

high keeping things largely dry but a warm front with milder air. The

next one comes through on Thursday moving from west to east. Really,

that is keeping things mild and tonight you will start to notice a

difference. Compared to last night, a huge difference, temperatures were

`3 in rural spots last night, tonight we are down to seven

Celsius. And with this warm front from north to south, increasing

cloud and also rain. More particularly in the eastern parts.

There could be fork in the high ground. Tomorrow, with lighter

winds, not an awful lot to agitate the cloud or fog. It could be dealt

to start the day but we hope the wind will pick up in the afternoon

so we get some brightness and sunshine. Temperatures again on the

mild side, nine or 10 Celsius with a lighter winds. Tomorrow night, a

repeat performance of tonight, it will be largely dry and so is

tomorrow night, a lot of residual cloud with hill fog and temperatures

matching tonight to values of five or seven Celsius. We will see things

cooling down after that, some rain on Thursday, a cold front following

so it may pep up the cloud producing patchy rain. Rain and showers on

Friday. Tonight's headlines from the BBC: With ten months to go to the

referendum, the Scottish Government has published its blueprint for

independence. A police officer is charged over the

plebgate affair ` it's alleged he falsely claimed to have witnessed

the incident. Three nurses are suspended at

Stafford hospital over concerns about care given to an elderly

patient. And landing new jobs ` the

maintenance hangar Birmingham Airport hopes will boost business.

That was the Midlands Today. I'll be back at ten o'clock where we'll be

looking at how businesses here in the West Midlands are growing more

quickly than anywhere else in the country. Have a great evening.

Goodbye.