20/02/2012 Spotlight

Will patients be at risk? Two prominent local figures add their

weight to proposed health reforms. Good evening. A former hospital

boss says he fears the drive to save money will overshadow

standards of care. Also on Spotlight tonight: The

bogus teacher from Brixham. Investigations continue into the

grading of exam papers after a woman admits forging her degree

certificate. The Devon village planning to

battle a pig farm the size of three football pitches.

And why dozens of enthusiasts are flocking to see this duck.

Two high profile figures in the South West have warned that the

Government's health reforms will put patient care at risk. As the

Prime Minister held a summit of health professionals to discuss the

Health and Social Care Bill, the Bishop of Exeter and a leading

academic and former hospital boss have voiced fears that standards of

care and safety could fall, in the drive to save money and increase

privatisation in the NHS. With me now is our Health Correspondent.

The Health and Social Care Bill is causing massive divisions in the

government and the NHS. Just remind us what is going on.

It wants to cut costs by opening things up to more competition so

there would be more independent providers providing services. A lot

of people are criticising it. The Royal College of Nursing and the

Royal College of GPs, and today, another senior academic has joined

the debate. He says that the plan to restructure the NHS is going to

cause damage to patient care. what we have at the moment is a

plan to save �20 billion whilst at the same time the NHS is being

reorganised and reconstructed. If you were trying to save money and

make it more efficient you need some stability and the system to

make these decisions. What we have now is a far from stability. We

have a huge turmoil and therefore people are making short-term

decisions which are making things more risky for the patients.

the Bishop of Exeter has expressed some concern.

He thinks that this could fragment patient care and it may not

necessarily provide the health and social care that people need.

not convinced that the Bill as yet has the methods that provide for

joined-up thinking in health care and social care for those groups. I

think the other danger is that we will have independent private

suppliers who bid for particular services and then cherry-pick.

Prime Minister held a summit today. What came out of that?

It caused a stir. The main health bodies that opposed the Bill were

not invited. David Cameron said that he felt that the Government

needed to do more to persuade people that this will actually help

patients. Choice for patients is a good thing. Integrated care is a

good thing. Making sure that GPs are making decisions is a good

thing. I have heard how on the ground some of these reforms are

taking place and you are actually seeing better outcomes, GPs doing

more things for their patients, people leading healthier lives as a

result. Thank you very much for keeping us up to date.

A court heard today how a bogus teacher may have over-marked GCSE

course work, leading to pupils having their results later

downgraded. Julia Rawlinson, who is 44 and from Brixham, worked for the

Edexcel exam board and at Westlands School in Torquay. From Exeter

Crown Court, our correspondent reports.

Julia Rawlinson used her home computer to forge degree

certificates. It helped her to get jobs marking hundreds of A-level

exam papers and later teaching A- level biology. Her fraud was

uncovered last year here at Westlands School after she got a

job as a biology teacher. Staff realised her qualifications were

photocopies and called in the police. The prosecutor told the

court that Julia Rawlinson had adversely affected the lives of

many young people at Westlands School in Torquay by over marking

their coursework which then had to be downgraded. He told the court

that they went into their exams thinking they had good results. But

the defender said that Julia Rawlinson did not mark the

coursework. He said it had been done externally and that their work

can sue -- sincere concerns about her mental health. Westlands School

said that Julia Rawlinson predicted student's coursework grades, which

turned out to be misleading. Students who do not get the grades

they had hoped for canal we do their work and have it submitted

all over again. Julia Rawlinson admitted two

charges of fraud and she claimed to suffer from hallucinations. The

prosecution claimed that she was thoroughly dishonest. The judge

said that it was important to ascertain whether or not the course

work had been marked by Julia Rawlinson.

In the last hour dozens of angry residents have been converging on

Venn Ottery Church in East Devon to formulate their battle plans

against an indoor pig unit close to the village. The application to

house more than 740 pigs has already been thrown out by local

planners once, but two weeks ago another application was made. In a

moment we will be speaking to the farmer who put the proposals

forward. But first our reporter has been meeting those against his

plans. You join us over a logging of the

Vale, which some would argue is one of the most spectacular views in

the whole of East Devon. This is where the indoor pig farm is

planned, and to give you an idea of scale, the idea is roughly the size

of about three football pitches. It is these pigs, 740 to be precise,

he will be relocated to the new unit. Presently they are outdoors

and the proposals have raised welfare issues. These pigs will be

in 24 hours a day and they will never see a blade of grass or

daylight. I understand the need to feed the nation but this is not the

right way to go. I thought we were moving away from factory farming.

Development here was turned down by the local council in February last

year, but a few weeks ago, a new application was submitted. A apart

from the impact on the area of of outstanding natural beauty, there

are many news and 80 -- nuisances, such as noise. I do not think this

is the appropriate place for such a development. But residents fear

that new government planning policies may pave the way for

approval. It is difficult to see how under current planning

regulations it can get through because it was so comprehensively

rejected last time round. There are concerns there could be changes in

the planning framework and the next few months and we would hate to be

the first victims of that change. In the meantime, the opposition

campaign is gaining momentum. The farmer who put these proposals

for word is here with us now. Why are you planning this in the middle

of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty? We have a few sites open to

us but we needed a new site. The minimum is 400 metres away from the

nearest dwelling. In east Devon, when you start looking at that, it

narrows down the site available. This is the only site that fits

that criteria and that is why we are here. I can understand that you

want to be a certain distance away from the nearest dwelling, but is

it fair to put it back close to other people's homes? We were

advised that it should be at least 400 metres. I believe we are 460

metres away from the nearest dwelling and we feel that is the

criteria. We were not refused before. They are satisfied with

that side of things so we want to try and help with pig production in

this company for the shopper country. -- help with Piggott

reproduction in this country. We need to get the pig industry moving.

It is nice to buy local meat and it is almost to see the pigs enjoying

themselves, which they obviously have then, but to move them inside,

is that not a farm -- form of a battery farm? Is it that a little

bit like chicken batteries? No, not at all. I think you hit the nail on

the head. He said he did not know much about it. A lot of people do

not know much about it. We have been employing this system for the

last 23 years. I enjoy my pig farming. We need to have a system

that is sustainable for the future of our business. If you consider

that in the last 10 years, 40 outdoor pig units have closed, now

there are only six in the area, it really is a difficult business to

make sustainable, and that is why I want to make this business work for

the future. Your application last year for the same idea was turned

down. What has changed? We have reduced the scale of the building

and have taken away one building. We have reduced it by 40 %. We have

used different materials and we have enhanced the planting scheme.

Although the majority of the pigs will be outside in muds and in huts,

which on a nice day looks idyllic, but in the winter, it can be

severely difficult. This is why we are doing it. Thank you for your

time. The energy company EDF has said it

hopes anti nuclear protesters at Hinkley Point will leave of their

own accord. The group have been occupying an old farm building on

the site because they are angry EDF has starting preparing the area for

the building of a new reactor without full planning permission.

EDF says the work has been approved by the local council. Legal papers

have been served to evict the protestors.

Staff at a 17th century hotel in South Devon have been praised for

leading guests to safety following a chimney fire. An area around the

Royal Seven Stars in Totnes has been cordoned off because there are

worries the chimney stack might collapse. No one was hurt in the

fire. Developers have lost their appeal

to build more than 150 homes in East Devon. More than 600 people

objected to the development between Exmouth and Lympstone claiming it

would ruin the landscape. Coming up: The housing association

tenants who have been without heating for five weeks. Plus:

What a weekend for the Pilgrims. We will reflect on all the action.

And thousands of miles from home, the very usual visitor to Cornwall.

A tenant farmer from Devon has lost his battle against eviction from

the home he has lived in for 60 years. The Court of Appeal ruled

against Brian Potter and in favour of a businessman who owns the farm.

Their six year legal fight is revealed in tonight's Inside Out

Little Heath Farm. Despite the derelict state, Brian Potter wanted

to stay here for life. But the court ruled against them, so he has

to pack up and go. I just think the law is disgusting, if they can

suddenly turn someone out of their job and their life and their home.

1-0 win, because a millionaire wants to make himself a little home

in Devon. The meek will never inherit the earth! The greedy ones

well. Eviction day. Brian is a me - - removing machinery as the

bailiffs grow impatient. Are you getting packed up? Good man. He is

worried about his sheep still in the field. If you want to collect

them, you must make an appointment. What about the ones trying to land?

They will be dealt with. After 60 years, Brian is leaving Little

Heath. And the house can finally welcome its owner, who bought it in

2006 for his retirement. He offered Brian a new, and a job or �150,000,

but it was turned down. There is no victory in a pointless fight. I am

afraid that Bryan's intention was always to get to the point where he

basically had burnt all his boats. And when you do that, you have

nothing to sail away in. Brian has vowed to fight on. Living, he says,

in his car. You can see more on Brian Potter's six-year legal

battle on Inside Out South West tonight at 7.30pm here on BBC One.

Now it's your turn! A family from Cornwall say they've been waiting

weeks for their Housing Association to mend their heating and hot water

system. The couple and their one- year-old daughter from Camelford

have been relying on donated heaters, which cost around �15 a

day to run. Five properties on the estate are affected. It's thought

the problem is with the building's under-floor heating. The last five

weeks, we have not had any heating or hot water. And we have reported

best a number of times. We don't seem to get anywhere. Obviously,

we're very sorry that the tache and some of her neighbours have been

inconvenienced this way. I would like to reassure them that the top

priority is to get to the bottom of this problem and resolve it as

quickly as possible. It's time for the sport now and Natalie's here

with more good news from the rugby world. This is getting to be a

habit. We start with more success for Exeter Chiefs. They made it

three Premiership wins in a row by beating Wasps 15-12 at Adams Park.

With more on that and a notable win for the Cornish Pirates, here's

Dave Gibbins. It was illegal goalkeeping of Bin Nasir main areas

which won this for the juice, landing five penalties. Finding the

target again. Rob Baxter's side had to fight with all their might in

the last 20 minutes. After the cheeks went up to 4th place, it was

only for 24 hours as Leicester's drop goal at Saracens on Sunday saw

them move into the top four. In the championship, the Cornish Pirates

exacted revenge on Bristol in Penzance by one point. It was 11 -

it at the break with David Ford going over for the Pirates on his

99th appearance. Chris Morgan scored the vital five pointer in

the second period to the two penalties from Bristol to give the

Pirates the psychological advantage for the play-offs. Plymouth Albion

were outscored three - one in a 21 - 19 defeat by Nottingham at the

Brickfields with Karen Carpenter touching down for Albion, who came

back strongly after trailing 14 - 3 at the interval. James loves

slotted four penalty kicks in total. To the football, and as Meatloaf

once said, two out of three ain't bad. Our two victories this weekend

came from Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle. But the team everyone had

expected to win, Torquay, missed out on their chance to go top when

they succumbed to Bradford City. Earlier, our football pundit, Chris

Hargreaves, came in to take a look at all the action and goals galore.

Unexpected result but lots of goals and we can start with one of them.

Exeter, that must threaten relegation? Five points clear. They

have to be commended. He will do as well as he can with the players.

Drawing Archibald follows in. Poaching the goal for the defender.

The first 30 minutes, they were outstanding and that one then the

game. Here we have this assault from the player which results in a

penalty. As I said, it is a great start and this is such an important

penalty. Just calming the nerves so the players can relax. That is what

they must do at home to get out of this trouble. That is a good cross

and it lands well for Richard Logan. Let's move to Torquay. They are

fallible. What happened? The team that we thought were going to win

at the weekend? The manager has done a fantastic job and they did

take the lead on the day, which is frustrating. But they have not got

major worries. Good finishing. It isn't a major relief. Three points

from the top of the table. That is a fantastic run but on the day,

Bradford... This was a merry-go- round of chances. Unbelievable. In

the end, it was in the back of the net. One of those days. You have to

hand it to them. Brilliant result, Plymouth Argyle, 4 - 0. Something

has clicked? What a result? So pleased for the club. And the man

on the day was MacDonald. Lays the ball off, gets his reward. Into the

bottom corner. His family and friends were there because he is on

loan from Burnley. And he scores again. Following in that bad piece

of goalkeeping. Good strike. Like a terrier? He is! That was a vital

goal. 3 - 0. Back into the team. Good time to score from Darren. And

he runs up another great goal. The team that won this wanted it more.

Thank you very much indeed. Yeovil Town's relegation worries are

starting to ease slightly after their third successive home win

under new manager Gary Johnson. They beat Colchester 3-2 at Huish

Park, scoring all three in the second half. Loanees Dean Parrett

and Lawson D'Ath overturned a one goal deficit with top scorer Andy

Williams adding a third. They're now seventh from the bottom, just

above Exeter on goal difference. Finally, Mid Devon Cycling Club's

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke has won a second race in France in the space

of a week. The 27-year-old came first in the Tour de Haut-var

following his victory in the Tour de Mediterranean. Well done to him.

And a quick reminder, for more football, Late Kick off is on at

11.05pm tonight. And that is all the sport. Thank you. "Duck found

in duckpond", doesn't sound like much of a headline. But in this

case, the duck comes from America and it's been found thousands of

miles away from home on the boating lake in Newquay. Dozens of

birdwatchers and Spotlight's David George have been having a look. In

order to find you were rare dock, first, find the people looking for

it. And what they're looking at his best, the North American lesser

scaup, one of the tufted duck family is what this distinctive

blue black beak. A American ducks get blown over on hurricanes were

bad storms from the eastern seaboard and they pop across green

land, Iceland. And through Britain. And they find somewhere for a

double and ball is your uncle. This one has found its home on the

boating lake. Unbelievably, because this is such a small place and you

think a wild bird would gets booked. But it is hanging around. This is

John's only film of the DUP, first identified yesterday. How rare is

this? You might get one or two of them in Britain annually. In

Cornwall, they are not very common. This is quite exciting. They are a

very rare bird. How many, cross from America in one year? Not dirty

money. -- not very many. This has local birdwatchers very excited.

The amount to people who ask us what we're looking at and they then

look and believe it is very different looking. It brings out

birdwatchers because it is unusually rare. For this part of

the world. Especially from North America. They reckon the local

ducks have accepted this new arrival and bird watchers say it

might even breed with local tufted ducks. And there it goes. Very

distinctive looking. Now a look at the weather forecast. We have had

the part of the country have had very little rain and there could be

a trout. Is that the situation I looked at the reservoir levels

earlier on today and they are looking just about find. Eastern

and southern parts of the country are bearing the brunt of the

drought conditions. East Anglia and south-eastern parts of England will

see some conditions like that over the next couple of weeks and months.

There is little reason for us, particularly on Wednesday. Largely

cloudy conditions this week, outbreaks of rain at times and it

will feel increasingly mild as the week goes on, particularly for

Thursday. If we look at the satellite picture... There has been

a good deal of cloud across the UK and that will be the situation

right the way through the rest of the week with some breaks at times

but generally fairly cloudy skies. And this chart shows the number of

weather fronts to the North the bus at the moment. This is where they

stay for the time being with Tim -- high-pressure keeping them at bay

but quite a squeeze on the isobars, indicating the brisk wind today.

That will be a feature of the weather for the rest of the week.

But Gray is for all of us but good news for Sir first. -- not great

news. Not great conditions for surfing, about 3 ft today. But the

conditions will pick up. And this well increasing. -- swell. And a

fairly good day for a walk across the beach. There is some rain in

the forecast for Wednesday. It looking at the charts for lunchtime

tomorrow, very little change and high pressure to the south with

this weather front straddling the UK but the change happens on

Wednesday with this weather system pushing and, bringing cloud and

outbreaks of rain and a very strong south-westerly wind on Wednesday.

He was a closer look at the radar picture from earlier today. You can

barely make out south-west England. Fairly thin cloud at times but

generally cloudy conditions persisting for most of us overnight.

Sunspots are patchy rain and drizzle possible but it will be a

much milder out compared with last night and temperatures holding up

at around five - eight degress. Tomorrow's starts and a cloudy note

with some outbreaks of patchy rain and drizzle for the first part of

the day in particular and maybe some breaks developing in the

clouds for the afternoon, especially to the eastern parts of

the region. Somerset, Dorset and perhaps East Devon seeing the best

brightness and a top temperature of 11 degrees. The Isles of Scilly

tomorrow, cloudy and occasionally damp with drizzle the outbreaks and

it will be breezy with high water times at 1639. And Bideford, 1749.

Surfing... It does pick up over the next few days. 5 ft tomorrow and

messy on the north coast. And those coastal waters... The wind will be

from the south-west. Occasional drizzle and visibility is moderate

or good. Becoming increasingly man over the next two days, Thursday

will have temperatures up to around 15 degrees, very mild for February

but watch out for the rain on Wednesday. Thank you. Tomorrow on

Spotlight, in the latest in a series of exclusive interviews with

prominent figures in the region, the new owner of Plymouth Argyle,

James Brent, talks about plans for his latest acquisition, Oldway

Mansion in Paignton, a new public role he's about to take on and his

plans for Argyle. The aspirational legacy for the club is to do the

new grandstand which has facilities that would generate income going

forward. Hear more about James Brent's plans for the Pilgrims and