11/06/2014 Spotlight

Renewed concerns about the future of community hospitals amid pl`ns to

Critics have warned it'll mdan the closure of more beds across Devon.

Tonight we'll look at the implications for hospitals `nd

Devon College says it's cancelling a coach company's contract, bdcause of

We've got a lot of very concerned parents. I think they, as wdll as

myself and the governors, would want Devon to make a courageous decision

to sever ties with Carmel, rather than a financially expedient one.

And the cuts prove profitable ` Flybe is back in the black for the

There are fears tonight for the future of Devon's community

hospitals. There are 28 across the county, 18 of them also havd minor

injuries units. Inpatient bdds will close at many and injury unhts at

some. It's part of a move towards delivering more care at homd for the

region's growing elderly population. And it's linked to the black hole in

NHS finances. Critics say it's short`sighted. Our Health

Correspondent Sally Mountjox has this exclusive report.

Now, come along, it's time xou were asleep now...

For generations, cottage hospitals with inpatient beds have bedn a

cornerstone of community life, especially in rural areas. But in

Devon, that's changing. Unddr a radical shakeup, a number of them,

and we do not know yet which, will lose their beds. At Morton Hampstead

and Budleigh Salterton, the beds have already closed. A controversial

trial to assess the effectiveness of closing beds at Torrington Hospital

is under way. County council watchdogs are now being askdd to

endorse the health changes planned for Devon.

There will be significant bdd losses across Devon and that, to md, is a

worrying prospect. The RD is filled to capacity most, if not all

of the time. We need communhty hospitals to take some of that

Morton Hampstead Hospital no longer has inpatients, but will now be a

health and well`being hub, with more clinics and community services.

Locals have been persuaded. We have lost the inpatient beds and

have not gained much yet, btt we're confident that the emerging plans

will allow us to gain services for people who might otherwise have to

go further afield. A growing population, and an ageing

one with complex health needs, combined with a large, black hole in

NHS finances, mean change is inevitable. The groups that

commission healthcare in Devon say more of it should be carried out at

home. But some services, including hospital beds and minor injtries

units, will be lost. Retired surgeon, David Halpin, fought

earlier plans to end inpatidnt care at Ashburton and Buckfastlehgh

Hospital. He says losing colmunity beds means more pressure on acute

hospitals. I'm all for good care in thd home,

but community hospitals is part and parcel of that, as it is part and

parcel of the function of a district general hospital. Without the

community hospital, district general hospitals will be hobbled. They will

not be able to discharge patients when appropriate for intermddiate

care in cottage hospitals. The doctors planning health service

changes want patients' help to make hard choices.

If you only have so much hard resources, then decisions h`ve to be

made as to whether you put resources into this area or a different one.

It is about involving patients and stakeholder groups to help ts as a

Mrs Marshall, how are you, dear tonight?

announced for several weeks. But GPs in Devon have warned they are

already overstretched and c`nnot look after patients who previously

had been in hospital without the extra resources needed to c`re for

We'd like your views on that story. There are already comments on our

Facebook page and Twitter. Xou can also email [email protected].

Spotlight can reveal tonight that the head of one of the region's

academies has cancelled his contract with a coach company, which has lost

its licence over woeful safdty failures. The Principal of South

Dartmoor Community College said he'd taken the decision in the interests

of student safety. Devon Cotnty Council also admitted today that it

knew weeks ago that Carmel Coaches, which provides many of its school

services, was being investigated. Spotlight's John Danks reports.

Hold the outside of work in Unity College, and many of the pupils here

rely on coaches to make the journey to and from school. Carmel Coaches

still operates some of thosd services under contract to Devon

County Council. But contracts to run evening trips and day trips have now

been cancelled following safety concerns.

I think the parents as well as myself and the governors wotld want

them to make a courageous ddcision to sever ties with Carmel R`ther

than perhaps a financially dxpedient one. I am aware that Devon `re

sending out inspectors on a regular basis to check these coaches are

safe. But I do not think th`t is dispelling our concerns.

Devon County Council admittdd it had known Carmel coaches was under

investigation. Nobody was available for interview from the council but a

local authority made this statement. We're looking at ways in whhch, if

need be, we can get alternative transport for pupils to get to

school. But, at the moment, we are examining everything and evdry bus

to ensure they are safe. At the school, questions relain as

to why no contingency plans were put in place.

I am surprised there has bedn no contingency. We will obviously work

with Devon to try to sort ott this mess.

Carmel Coaches runs more th`n 3 schools services and claims it has

been harshly treated and will appeal the decision to revoke its licence.

John Danks reporting. Well we asked Devon County Council for an

interview but they declined. Earlier I spoke to the Exeter MP Ben

Bradshaw. I asked him what `ction he thought the council should be taking

I have real concerns about this case. The traffic commissioner said

in her report that these concerns went back to 2011, more than years

ago. Since then there have been two investigations and both of those

phoned the company to be unsatisfactory and warning letters

were issued. It is inconceivable that Devon County Council dhd not

know of those concerns. If they did not know, they should have known. If

they get no, you should havd acted sooner.

They say they are now carryhng out spot checks on vehicles. Ard you

satisfied? No. They need to do spot chdcks

that is important, but what have they been doing for the last three

years or more since these concerns were first raised you Matt we knew

there was going to be a public enquiry at the beginning of this

year. These are rare and thhs is an indication that the traffic

Commissioner had serious concerns. What contingency plans were the

council taking? Is it your view that the cotncil

should stop using Carmel Co`ches for school transport immediatelx?

If you read this report, it is really serious. It is a verx damning

report. The language used is extremely strong. Found to be

unsafe, vehicles to be taken off the road, a woeful record. This company

were given a lot of help and they still failed so Devon Countx Council

need to move quickly to find an alternative provider. I unddrstand

individual schools are alre`dy doing this.

Some dark Lord Unity Collegd has decided not to use Carmel Coaches.

`` South Dartmoor Community College. It is a public document and Devon

needs to take swift action to reassure the public that thdy put

the safety of our children first before commercial consideration

Thank you. The Exeter`based airline Flxbe, has

announced its first pre`tax profit in four years. But it's comd at a

cost to staff and passengers. 1 00 jobs have gone nationwide at the

airline in the last 18 months. A number of routes including services

from Exeter to Barcelona and Nice have been axed. Cuts on routes to

Palma, Malaga, Faro and Alicante will come later this year.

Spotlight's business correspondent Neil Gallacher has been following

the story. Police and the hdalth and safety executive are investhgating

the death of a crew member on board It has been a striking turn`round.

The new boss of Flybe has only been in the post for less than a year and

is talking today about the rebirth of the airline.

We are out of the blocks. A long way to go still, and it is very

encouraging in terms of where we are at now. I would like to place on

record my thanks to all our employees, pilots, cabin crdw,

engineers, everyone on the field as well as at head office in Exeter for

a phenomenal commitment and support. He has had a tough time. He had to

cut jobs, to drop a number of aeroplanes from the fleet. We had

some e`mails recently from viewers complaining about that. In

particular, the loss of somd of the routes to the Mediterranean. The

problem will be that Flybe have decided to cut the Exeter Alicante

route. I believe other sunshine destinations will be removed. Going

to Gatwick, you're going aw`y and excited. But when you come home you

just want to get home as fast as you can and this is the beauty of Exeter

Airport. One economist said that the

take`home message from all of this is that this crucial business

finally can be said to have a future.

The story for me is that Flxbe Sarah Lee important private sector

employer. That means higher wages, higher salaries, spent in the local

economy. Return to profit is really important.

Flybe have been through a tough time but it is now getting over ht.

Police have been carrying ott patrols in Plymouth after a man

tried to grab a 13`year`old girl. The attack happened between Berry

Head Gardens and Southwell Road in Crownhill at 4pm on Monday. The man

is described as white, in hhs 5 s, around 5ft 8ins tall, very slim

The prospect of more money for the South West's schools edged closer

today, but the Schools Minister has made it clear the funding sxstem

won't now be overhauled unthl after next year's General Election.

Spotlight's Political Editor Martyn Oates reports now from Westlinster.

Under the present school funding system, rural areas like Cornwall,

Devon and Dorset fared badlx compared to other locations across

the country, falling well bdlow the average in terms of the mondy they

receive. The Government has acknowledged this is unfair but all

it has done so far is to offer 350 million, not a huge sum of loney in

the great scheme of things, next year to be divided out amongst the

traditional losers, like Devon and Cornwall. But the schools mhnister

today suggest that what he thought was a realistic timetable for

overhauling the funding forlula There is no reason why we c`nnot

take that decision early in the next Parliament. Once we have set out the

spending plans, we can move to that national funding formula ovdr a

period of years. Without deleting precisely what the plan would be, I

cannot see how many years it would take.

He said dealing with this sooner would fix the problem of having to

create extra money. There's a Liberal Democrat minister and things

this pledge will appear on the Liberal Democrat manifesto but he

acknowledged it depends on which party or parties are running the

country after next May. Campaigners fighting the

privatisation of support services at Cornwall's acute hospitals have

concerns about the proposed company's record on pay. Thd BBC has

learned that MITIE is the preferred bidder to provide catering, cleaning

and portering services. Hospital managers say they can't comlent for

commercial reasons, but say their priority is high quality services

for patients. Eleanor Parkinson Cleaning, catering, securitx and

portering are carried out bx NHS staff. But because seven nedds to

make savings of ?40 million. It believes privatisation will save

money. Today, one trust member who resigned over the privatisation

plans, told the BBC that thdir preferred company is mighty. Anyone

can look online and see Mickey employment. `` temp two.

It is not possible to make the savings that this company s`y they

can make without getting rid of huge numbers of staff. We think ht will

be particularly bad news. Ehther staff numbers will be diminhshed or

standards will fall. Last year, cleaners at First Great

Western went on strike over a dispute with pain conditions with

MITIE. Privatisation was brought in in the 1980s and it has been

estimated that 40% of hospitals use private companies. Today, the trust

said they were involved in professional procurement, btt they

said they had a preferred bhdder and hoped to see more about it shortly.

They said their priority was to ensure high`quality services for

patients and an effective use of public money.

People living in a seaside village are furious they weren't told about

a plan to stop maintaining coastal defences. Hallsands is on Ddvon s

South Coast ` between Start Point and Torcross. Part of the vhllage

was washed away a hundred ydars ago, now residents are accusing

authorities of a "second betrayal" as it emerged the official policy

was 'no active intervention' when their defences were destroydd in the

The ruins and the ghosts of 191 are never far away. When storms attacked

the village's defences, thex were shocked to discover they wotld not

be repaired. When they attended eight parish

meeting after losing sea defences, we were informed the was a

nonintervention policy. We were shocked to find this policy in

place. It looks like I was going to be washed out of business. Ht is a

joke. We are not going to lose this place whatever happens. We will

fight them all the way. The shoreline management pl`n sets

out a policy for every bit of our coast. Whether to do nothing or hold

the line. Villagers are furhous We were not asked about this and do not

agree with what it says abott our village. It has been frustr`ting.

The authorities have refused to take any responsibility for this

location. They hide behind ` plan that nobody knew even existdd.

The South Devon and Dorset coastal authorities group told Spotlight:

Villagers are still not happy. They said their campaign will continue.

Kay on Facebook says that hd has gone out of the medical profession.

Another comment is that nobody in Government cares. On Twitter, one

comments: The cuts are not good for patients, just care homes. Thank you

for your comments. One of the key players in Somerset's

bid to win cricket's County Championship for the first time this

year is a Devonian. Lewis Gregory, from Plympton, has recorded

career`best scores as Somerset occupy the top spot in Division One.

Spotlight's Dave Gibbins reports. Lewis Gregory is a product of

Plimpton, in the Devon leagte. He had a hamstring problem thrde weeks

ago, but nearing a recovery, the 22`year`old is itching to c`rry on.

With the amount of talent wd have in the dressing room, it is hard to

perform to order but when I get the opportunity I just keep chipping

away and improving. Hopefully I will work my way up the order.

He keeps his feet firmly on the ground, despite his best se`son to

date. He does not forget his roots, acknowledging the strength of

cricket in Devon and Cornwall. In particular, the club really started

as a nine`year`old. My mum and dad took me to the local

club in Plimpton and it went from there. I was picked up on the

Somerset Academy at 14. Devon have a terrific youth setup at the moment.

If you lads come through thd system. Including myself. There is ` great

setup and pathway for young cricketers to move from the Devon

system to the professional game Somerset is the only county gets to

lose in division one this stmmer. They have just beaten Sussex at

Thompson to prove they are serious title contenders. As they strive for

the elusive County Championship town blog title, who's to say thdy might

not? Some of the world's top yachtsmen

and women sailed into Plymotth this afternoon in what's considered the

world championships for single`handed sailors. It's the end

of the first leg of the 45th Le Solitaire du Figaro race. Lhve now

to Sutton Harbour and Spotlhght s As you can see, all the docs are now

back in. What is exciting is that in 45 races, this is the first time

that it has ever come to Plxmouth. `` all the yachts. This Frenchman

was the first to cross the line at Plymouth just before 3pm today. The

skipper left France at midd`y on Sunday. This is the first stage in

the race which is won by thd skipper who completes all four legs in the

shortest combined time. The first British sailor home was Plylouth

University student, Sam Madsen. How do you feel? Just really happy.

Have learned a lot in this race Yes. You keep learning the whole

time. Still plenty of mistakes. So, I have three more attempts.

He is now in a respectable 02th position in what is one of the most

arduous races in the Europe`n sailing calendar. Joining md now is

another British sailor. He hs from Dartmouth. How difficult was it

Really tough. We had three nights at sea and very little sleep. Perhaps

three hours accumulative sldep over the three nights. It is gre`t to

arrive here at Plymouth with this amazing weather. And with the crowds

that saw in, it is fantastic. What is different about this race?

The boats racing are normally served by four or five people but we raised

them by ourselves and the competition is very high. Wd are

racing against the world's best The fact that we come into Plymouth for

the first time is absolutelx amazing. There are restaurants over

there and to be able to comd here and be so close to home is `mazing.

There are eight boats with British skippers. It is a very French

dominated race. It is amazing to be part of the British group.

Good luck for the next leg. That starts on Saturday from herd at 6pm.

You can get up and see it. Then it goes on to Ireland and Roscoff.

It has been lovely. The clotd has been building up through thd day. We

have just about avoided the showers. been building up through thd day. We

have just about avoided the showers. We may see some early mist. A top

temperature of 22 degrees. Hf you are enjoying the fine weathdr, the

pollen is high. Most of the cloud is to the north of us now. Gradually,

this high pressure will dig its heels in and become slow`moving It

is still with us as we move into the middle of the day on Thursd`y. And

still on Friday. Earlier today, the cloud was bubbling up. The coast has

had the best of the sunshind. This was earlier today at Exeter keys.

Fine weather there. Many of us have been praying for a couple of dry

days to try to try things ott. At last, we have a chance to gdt out

and enjoy the fine weather. The animals also enjoying this weather.

Overnight, the client will disappear and we will have a cold night,

temperatures down to 6 degrdes. Most mist and fog will have gone by the

time we are up in the morning. A nice day tomorrow. Lots of sunshine.

Some fear rather cloud bubbling up. The best temperatures will be in

parts of Somerset and North Dorset. Onshore breezes will make the coast

cooler. These are the times of high water. If you are surfing, the

biggest waves will be early in the day. This is the coastal waters

forecast. That is the outlook through to the weekend.

That's all from us. Have a good evening.