16/06/2011 BBC Oxford News

Good evening from BBC Oxford News. In tonight's programme: More local

magistrates' courts close. Will it mean a more no-shows from

offenders? Hundreds of people sue the makers

of a hip joint that releases shards of metal into their bodies. They

became more and more uncomfortable. Be restricted my life. I could not

walk very far. On South Today: Dropping in on the Aids. That

hands-on science fair for inspiring the next generation. -- BA heads.

Magistrates in Oxfordshire say more offenders will fail to turn up to

hearings following the closure of course. Until last year, there were

six magistrates courts in the country but they have been closed.

First to go, Wantage and Witney. Didcot's shuts this month and

Bicester is likely to go in two years. The closures are part of

streamlining by the Government. There are concerns the changes will

badly affect smaller communities. This is the magistrates' court in

Didcot. It was only renovated six years ago but now it is closing. It

is part of a series of cuts to the core service across the country.

Here in Oxfordshire, we are having a real impact. It will leave people

with far further to travel to court. It seems to us very likely there

will be more cases of people not coming to court and using lack of

means as a reason for this. The knock-on effect of that is that it

will divert police resources into executing warrants for those people

who do not turn up. The Government says the courts are not operating

efficiently. Didcot's is not used for around have the time. Shutting

it will improve efficiency. Residents are concerned about the

impact. A lot of people will not bother turning up there. They will

do more crime. Everything seems to be getting taken away from the

smaller towns. I am concerned. We should be left alone. A dozen in

the near Escort is Oxford. There are going to be queues and use. --

the nearest court. The court building in wanted is lying empty.

A visible reminder of a lost amenity. Money, we are told, could

not be spent on the court because it was all to and not fit for

purpose. If we have to accept that, fair enough. But we do really need

if service is nearer to our towns. Despite the Government's assurance

that closing Didcot magistrates court and others will make the

service more efficient, there are many others who remain concerned

about the impact on local justice. Also, the wider effect that will

have on the local community. People who have had hip

replacements are being urged to get blood tests after it was discovered

their joints may be leaking toxic metals. The ASR joint has been

given to 8,000 patients. The company DePuy says all joints were

properly tested and recalled when problems became clear. 270 patients

are suing the makers. Among them is Diana Collins. It was audible in a

quiet situation. It caused me difficulty with walking. It was

very embarrassing in a quiet situation. It became more and more

uncomfortable. It restricted my life because I could not walk very

far. Our health correspondent has unearthed this story. I asked him

what had gone wrong. These joints were the usual ball

and socket arrangement but both parts were made of metal. What was

happening inside the body was the two parts were grinding against

each other, releasing sharp metal shards. Also, they were releasing

high levels of chrome and cobalt. That is one of the things that is

worrying. The long-term effects of that are not really known. I think

you do not want people to be worried unduly. There is some

evidence to suggest under some circumstances these metals might

produce cancer is, for example. But that does not necessarily mean that

is going to happen. -- cancers. Even if that is the case, it does

not mean it will happen to individuals. We heard from Diana

who is taking legal action. What are her chances of success?

There are several hundred patients involved in legal action. It is

hoped this can be settled out of court. That is because the numbers

involved in this and the scale of the failure is pretty large and so

I imagine we will need compensation figures. Remember these joints were

put in all across the country. Many NHS hospitals were also involved in

trying to put those adjoins right. People hearing this may be worried

if they have had a hip operation. Should they be?

These particular joints were recalled. They are no longer being

put into people. The company that made them, DePuy, said they were

fully tested before they were released onto the market and the

company is now working with surgeons and with patients who may

be concerned about their future health.

Thank you. Wiltshire Police have underspent

its budget by �4 million at the last financial year. They say the

biggest savings came from a recruitment freeze which sought

staff numbers dropped by 79. There was a fall in overtime. They cut

spending on forensic testing by around a third.

Organisers of the British Grand Prix have released details of how

they will manage traffic at Silverstone next month. The A43

will be closed to through-traffic during the day for three days

between junction 15A of the M1 in Northamptonshire and junction 10 of

the M40 in Oxfordshire. A one-way system will be in place for the

event from the 8th of July. A private care home in

Buckinghamshire has been told it must improve after it was found to

be given the wrong amount of medication to some of its residents.

The Care Quality Commission said there were serious failings at

Cherry Tree House near Aylesbury. Cherry Tree House currently looks

after 20 elderly residents. It has name been given 14 days for to

improve following an inspection by a that Care Quality Commission. The

report found the home had failed to meet for or orbit 16 essential

standards. The two main areas of concern centre around medication

and the state and suitability of the building. The report found some

clients were not being given their medication as often as they should

be. That is a situation that has been described as alarming. There

were also issues surrounding staff training. Cherry Tree House must

also address the state of its building. Today, there does seem to

be some evidence that that is underway. The report found that

water leaked through the ceiling into the residence' lounge. One a

gentleman, who did not want to appear on camera, told me when it

rains, buckets are laid out in the living room. Nobody from Cherry

Tree House wanted to speak to us today but they have now been given

two weeks to explain to at the Care Quality Commission exactly what

they are going to do to improve things for the people who live

there. 100 Oxfordshire school children

have helped launch a new appeal to raise �1 million for the Armed

Forces. Ten For Ten is an appeal marking 10 years of British troops

in Afghanistan. It aims to improve the recovery of injured soldiers.

The sky is the limit for the 100 balloons launched by 100 school

children this lunchtime. For those behind the Ten For Ten appeal, they

hope they will reach their �1 million target. This teacher launch

the campaign after her husband, on the left, spent a week abroad.

the 10 days he was there, six men died. He told me this on the phone.

I just sat at home thinking, this is just so it sobering. I have got

to do something. The money raised by this appeal will be split

between providing recovery centres and individual recovery plans for

soldiers. Soldiers like this man. His lower leg was amputated 15

months after returning injured from his tour in 2009. You will not be

Afghanistan forever. To a lot of people, this would be gone and

forgotten. But there will still be those of us who need their help and

I think it is important these organisations are in place for that.

More than 20,000 people have already signed up to the appeal

which will officially end at 10pm on 10th October. With high-profile

charities like held for heroes already raising tens of millions of

pounds, will the public stump up again? -- Help for Heroes. It is

not enough. We cannot anticipate the amount of people who will need

help. Schools are being asked to sign up now to donate to the