07/03/2017 South Today - Oxford

Arsenal in Europe. Natalie thank you very much again at the Emirates

From threats to kill to racist and Stadium.

From threats to kill to racist and sexist insults, the abuse call

claims the law should change to claims the law should change to

protect them. Afraid to go back on a train cash

the couple attacked for being gay. And, tackling the shortage of

spaces. Plans to build five new multistorey car parks at Oxford's

hospitals. There are claims the law

needs to be changed A BBC investigation has revealed

the extent of the abuse they're being subjected to by members

of the public. Call handlers working

for South Central ambulance service have received threats to kill,

as well as racist and sexist abuse. David Lumb's been to the service's

main control room, and has There's nothing allocated as of yet

because we are very busy... What do you mean there's nothing

allocated as of yet? Just tell me and I'll

take her to hospital myself Just a normal shift for 999

call taker Josie Wass. The 22-year-old's been doing the job

about a year and says she's I've been called the B word,

I've been told to F off. Sometimes sexist, "You're just

a woman, I want to talk to a man." You just sit there, listening to it,

feeling like the smallest person in the world,

just trying to do your job. The staff in this control room take

more than 1,000 999 calls a day from across Oxfordshire,

Hampshire, Berkshire I don't BLEEP care about

other people, I just I understand it's upsetting,

but I'm only trying to help you. Figures obtained by the BBC show

call takers in England, Wales and Scotland logged hundreds

of abusive calls in three years. The workplace should be a safe

environment for anybody, you should not have to put up

with anyone talking Currently, abuse is covered under

the wider Communications Act 2003 and the Protection

from Harassment Act 1997. Both carry a maximum

penalty of six months. But the union Unison

says it's not enough. It wants harsher sentences to deter

offenders and more requirements The government needs to look

at the law surrounding prosecuting people that have threatened

and threats of violence. I don't think the law

in itself is enough. It will send out a strong message

to people that we take ambulance and NHS staff health and safety

seriously, and that A Government spokesman said

sufficient laws were already For now, it seems, abusive calls

will remain something that Josie A man is being questioned

on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman

in Ludgershall near Aylesbury. Samantha Blake-Mizen's body

was found in a house A post mortem examination

has revealed she died The singer George Michael

died of natural causes, The star was found dead

at his home in Goring in South Oxfordshire on Christmas

Day. The coroner concluded that he had

heart disease and a fatty liver, and that an inquest

was not required. A gay couple who were beaten up

by a gang of men on a train from Reading say they're now afraid

to travel by rail. It happened on Valentine's Day, with

horrified passengers calling police. Images have now been released

of the men police want to speak to. You had bruising around

your eyes and your head. This couple had fallen asleep

on a train home on Valentine's Day. They were set upon

by a group of men. One guy woke me up and

said something nasty. I think they didn't

like me lying on him. I think that is what

caused the issue. Police have released these images

of four men they want to speak to. Police say this was

a prolonged and nasty attack. The victims believe

it was motivated by homophobia. The police say hate crime

will not be tolerated. I am just a bit scared to go on the

evening train. You know, I look at where I am sitting, who is coming

in. I am glad police have got those images because it makes people aware

of what they look like in case they see them, contact the police.

Plans to build five multi storey car-parks at hospitals in Oxford

Patients and visitors often face long waits to get a space.

The plans have been revealed amidst discussions about radical changes

Our political reporter Bethan Phillips sent this report.

Today was a chance for councillors and campaigners to put

their concerns to health bosses about plans to save ?200 million

One of the main worries to come up was parking.

The plans include centralising some services in Oxford,

including making a so-called downgrade of the maternity unit

at Banbury's Horton hospital permanent, meaning women with higher

risk pregnancies will have to come to the John Radcliffe.

And that's with huge pressure on parking there already,

with some patients missing appointments because they simply

Today, the chief executive of Oxford University Hospitals,

Dr Bruno Holthof addressed those concerns, saying they want to treat

more patients at home, and offer more outpatient

He said the trust was also set to put

planning applications in for five multi-storey car parks in Oxford -

two at the John Radcliffe, two at the Churchill and one

That will be a relief for many patients who have struggled

But it's unlikely to set the minds of campaigners at ease,

who have much wider concerns about the plans,

saying overall it will mean cuts and closures.

One Labour councillor said today there simply wasn't a safe way

to make ?200 million worth of savings from the health

And that was a sentiment echoed by protesters.

In Oxfordshire it's based on taking out ?200 million

We all know that things are very pressured right now.

People are on trolleys, we don't have enough hospital beds,

What happens when 20% of that is taken out?

The clinical commissioning group, which is the organisation behind

this plan, insist it will mean better, joined-up services.

Today, councillors decided they needed another meeting

to question health bosses about the plan.

If their concerns aren't addressed the plan could be referred

An activity centre in Buckinghamshire, which has helped

thousands of disabled children, has expanded.

Thomley, in Worminghall, also supports parents and carers.

A new pavilion will mean more performances to

Watching them being drawn is a real treat.

There is always something that you can find a way

You draw a dinosaur, whatever it might be, there is a way.

Thomley was set up 15 years ago by a group of parents whose

Children and teenagers from all over the country now come here.

You get some children that have noticeable issues,

some that have clearly got a huge range of disabilities.

For example, they might be in a wheelchair full-time.

It is actually really beneficial for all the children that come

here to learn about different types of abilities.

Thomley is firmly established at a nine-acre site in Worminghall.

Visitors can get a bite to eat and enjoy all

What we planned to use it for is putting on film shows,

little theatre events, training events, all sorts

Keeping Thomley going is a challenge.

There's no government funding, and it costs more

The good news is, visitor numbers have shot up 80%

The weather forecast is next with Sarah Farmer.

Hello, good evening. With outbreaks of rain through the course of the

night, drizzle at first, but we will see some heavier pulses arriving

through the overnight period. There will be some breaks in that wet

weather, but it will tend to come and go. Temperatures down to six or

seven, but starting to climb as we had towards dawn. By Wednesday

morning, it looks like we will be at nine or 10 degrees. Further

outbreaks of rain through the day, gradually easing as we enter the

afternoon, and there may be some brightness, but it will be limited

with temperatures up to 11 Celsius. Looking ahead, a quieter day in

store for Thursday. We will see some brightness, but a fair amount of

cloud at times through the course of the day. Generally, a dryer day on

Thursday and we stick with that cloud in that tell end of the week.

Through Wednesday, outbreaks of rain, and there will be one or two

dryer into. If brightness at times. Cloudy skies on Thursday, but we may

see some sunshine here and there, and cloudy for Friday.

rain on Saturday. The national picture now from Nick Miller.

It looks like next week high pressure will become a player again

in our weather, settling things down for some of us for a time but until

then it is low-pressure, rain moving across the UK overnight but not wet

all the time. Many of us at a fine day today, this was at you from West

Yorkshire and Yorkshire and northern England and Northern Ireland will

farewell tomorrow, after this frontal system has pushed on through

the UK with rain.