27/11/2013 Look East - East

Trouble in the flock at Christmas ` we investigate our safety record on

poultry after health officials confirm a low`risk disease in

turkeys. I have had so many calls from small

producers this morning doing a great job supplying a nation with their

Christmas turkeys, and now they are an absolute panic.

Hello and welcome to Look East with Susie and me. In other news tonight:

The region's Ambulance Service goes in search of 400 new staff to bring

its service up to standard. We are not hiding the fact that

recruitment is a problem. Controversy breaks out over

Colchester Zoo's decision to shoot dead three escaped wolves.

And, running out of puff ` smokers come under pressure to stub it out

at the region's hospitals. Hello. The region's turkey producers

hit back today following reports that a livestock bug had been

detected at a poultry farm. They said the scare threatened this

year's Christmas trade. Health officials say it's the first time in

this country a strain of MRSA had infected turkeys. They won't say

where the outbreak is exactly, but it is somewhere in East Anglia.

Experts insist there is no need for concern ` it's a very minor

infection and does not pose a risk to humans. But turkey producers are

worried about the impact on sales in the run`up

one in three turkeys produced nationally is from this region. Last

year, it was worth 114 compounds. These birds in Norfolk have a clean

bill of health. This farm is nowhere near the infected unit. We hear

about various risks all the time. At the beginning of the year, we had a

horse meat scare. We are always being told to cook our poultry

properly, especially with the risk of salmonella, so MRSA is not a

problem. And that message is backed up by health officials who said the

livestock `based MRSA discovered on a small farm is very low risk. The

turkeys infected can still go into the food train. It is particularly

prevalent in livestock in Europe, and we eat imported meat with that

strain of MRSA on it, and there have been no problems with that. The risk

to human health is very low. The timing of this MRSA case in the

run`up to Christmas is not ideal. This region is a major hub for the

turkey industry, from huge reducers like Bernard Matthews, to this

smallholding. None could forget the slaughter of tens of thousands of

poultry in the east after an outbreak of bird flu hit this region

five years ago. The risk to people was low, but consumer confidence and

turkey production took a hit. Producers know that public

perception, however misplaced, is critical. I have had so many people

this morning calling me wondering what to do. In my opinion, it is

irresponsible of the press. Shoppers here were not put off. As long as

people tell you what you need to know and you stick to the rules,

cook it properly, what can go wrong? So you will have a turkey?

Absolutely. I have a huge amount of faith in my local butchers. The

messages straightforward. Cook all poultry thoroughly. Producers hope

this will be a minor blip in their busiest time of year.

Richard Bond is here. How worried should people in the industry be

nice to mark the timing is awful. More turkeys are bought at Christmas

than during the whole of the rest of the year, and the industry does

depend on public trust. There is no rational reason why people should

change their shopping habits. This strain doesn't normally affect

humans, and there is very little chance of catching the infection, as

long as normal hygiene standards are observed. Sales fell during the bird

flu epidemic and have not really recovered, have they? No, but that

is a much more serious matter. There was a huge cult of birds. The centre

of this inquiry are going to be passed into the food chain.

The East of England Ambulance Service has admitted it still needs

hundreds more paramedics before it can meet its targets for getting to

999 calls on time. It was one of the main points discussed at a board

meeting for ambulance bosses in Ipswich. On the table, a major

review of how the service is performing after months of

criticism. It's called a Clinical Capacity Review and it shows that

recruitment is still a major problem. 400 extra front`line staff

are needed over the next four years, as well as 50 new ambulances. But so

far this year the Trust has only been able to recruit seven

paramedics. And all this at a time when demand is rising ` up 6% in the

past ten months. The report says the East of England Ambulance Service is

under pressure in all areas. In a moment we'll hear from the man in

charge, but first Nikki Fox on the pressures faced by front`line staff.

Hello, do you require an emergency and villains? Grace has been working

at this control room for 2.5 years. She moved from admin because she

wanted to make a difference. I have got a call, I can hear someone

moving. It sounds like they might be people talking in a different

language. A Slovakian man has called 909 for a friend that is in pain,

but he can't understand grace, and she can't understand him. I am going

to call for an interpreter and we will call you back. I can't take any

calls while I deal with this, and it has already been seven minutes, and

we still don't know what is going on with the patient. After 15 minutes,

the agency providing interpreters says it cannot find a Slovakian

speaker. The Amblin scene has to go in anyway. They will approach with

caution. Norwich is one of three call centres in the East. It

coordinates nearly 1 million journeys each year. It is a constant

reminder of targets. They work their socks off while they are here. We

can't do any more than that. But we are starting to help pick staff

morale up and we are getting there slowly. For those on the other end

of the phone who call on the surface, delays make up mini half of

complaints. They are often caused by vehicle is held up at hospital. But

new Halo staff have improved things. We have got three inbound at the

moment and five ambulances already at the hospital off`loading

patients. The technology allows them to let matrons know if they have got

ambulances on the way. On Easter Monday, and emergency tent was set

up after 17 cute outside the hospital. The new system means that

has been no repeats. When the beds are full, the hospital will

experience delays. What we can do is minimise the impact on the Ambulance

Service by returning our crews to the road as soon as possible. Back

in the control room, and other corn handler is talking to the relatives

of an 86`year`old. Calls relating to older people make up over half the

work load. The latest involves an emotional exchange. A very

distraught lady on the phone, who sings her mother has just died at

the table. On the phone that lady needed some comfort. It is a range

of emotions the staff have to go through. I have been threatened and

sworn at. Someone threatened to kill me when I asked for the address. The

service has hit its target to reach the most seriously ill patients

within eight minutes in four months. The staff hope it is the start of

better things to come. The ambient servers is all of us. We all want to

do the best we can. `` the Ambulance Service.

That meeting in Ipswich today was held at the football club. When it

was over, I sat down with the interim Chief Executive Andrew

Morgan to talk about this latest plan to turn things around.

We haven't got what we need. The capacity review sets out the gap we

have got. I have said all along that we need to do better with what we

have got, but I think we needed more of it. This now quantifies how much

extra we need. But after your turnaround plan, the marsh review

set your plan could not work because you could not find the staff that

you said you would find. This has now proved to be right. I said that

recruitment was going to be an issue. But I'm not going to sit back

and say it is all too difficult, let's just forget the whole thing.

But your plan was almost a promise that you would get those staff. It

was setting out the target we set ourselves. I dedicated unrealistic.

`` I don't think it is unrealistic. But you even offered a ?2000 golden

handshake and you still haven't attracted them. Yes, we have been

trying. We haven't got the numbers we want. It is the same in any

ambulance trust. I'm pretty sure they would all be saying they cannot

get enough. When you see a local MP saying what the trust really needs

is leadership, what is your reaction? He is right and I am

giving it leadership. I and the interim Chief Executive and I am

staying as such. If you were the right man for the job, why didn't

they give you the job? You will have to ask them that. It is not for me

to say. Why did you stay when they didn't obviously want you to stay

permanently? I have been in the NHS 32 years. I love it deeply, it is

fantastic in our society. I am addicted to this trust, it is the

best embodiment of what I believe the NHS is about. I am committed to

what I am trying to do here. This trust which, according to a lot of

people, is failing to do what it should be doing. The journey we are

on to put things right... But when you said you were going to recruit

all of those staff, the increase over last 12 months has been seven.

I am not hiding the fact that recruitment is a problem. Our

performance is getting better. But you say that this trust is an

important of what you expect the NHS to be. It is failing. It is not

failing, it has had significant problems, it is starting to come out

of them. Some people would say that is good and positive, other people

would say you are in denial. I can assure you I am not. I just want

people to have a balanced view that we are doing a number of things much

better than we used to do, but we are absolutely clear, we know where

our challenges lie. Seven people arrested over the

discovery of a cannabis farm in Bradenham in Norfolk have been

bailed until January. Officers discovered 1000 plants and four

tonnes of tobacco on Sunday in what they've called one of the biggest

operations they've come across in recent years.Three of those

arrested, thought to be foreign nationals, remain in police custody

on behalf of the immigration authorities.

The Prime Minister said again today he understands concerns about plans

to turn part of the A14 into a toll road. David Cameron says he's been

lobbied by Suffolk MPs over the issue.

Managers at Colchester Zoo have been silent today after they were

criticised over a decision to shoot three wolves which escaped from an

enclosure. The police confirmed today that it was the zoo, not the

police, who ordered the killing. The RSPCA said it was a shame that such

beautiful wild animals were kept enclosed in the first place.

Colchester Zoo was opened today, but not to television cameras. And, for

one family visiting, there were many unanswered questions. I heard they

cordoned the whole slew of, but they didn't evacuate when they heard the

animals were missing. And that would have worried you if you had been

there? Definitely. The alarm was raised at ATM yesterday. Five wolves

had escaped through a damaged fence. One went back into the

enclosure, another was darted and captured. But three were shot dead.

Today, the RSPCA said this was a difficult situation. The authorities

had to take into account public safety, as well as the welfare of

these wild animals. The zoo also faced criticism for shooting wolves

it had initially described as naturally timid and of no threat to

the public is not cornered. Today, the zoo has declined all requests

for interviews and says it is investigating. On the controversial

decision to shoot dead three of the wolves yesterday, it had this to

say. They are wild animals, it was an unpredictable situation, and they

would have posed a risk to the public. Colchester's Mayor has

rallied to the zoo's defence. Lots of people come forward and throw in

debt to pennies, and I believe the zoo did what they felt they had to

do. No added distress to animals. If they couldn't sedate them, it isn't

for us. They work with animals continuously. We are only looking in

on their situation. Essex Police say if they find evidence the fence was

tampered with the rebels launched a criminal investigation.

`` they will launch. Still to come: The cream of the

region's contemporary art goes on display. And, smokers come under

more pressure not to light up on hospital premises.

In tonight's special report, detectives re`open a murder inquiry

into a man's killing 18 years ago. The body of Ian Grant was found on

wasteland near Cambridge in November 1995. He had been shot in the head.

Since then the trail of evidence has gone cold, until now. Detectives say

they have made a major break`through and have launched a cold`case murder

investigation. This report is from our Home Affairs Correspondent Sally

Chidzoy. 18 years after nightclub bouncer Ian

Grant was killed in Cambridge, detectives believe they are on the

verge of a breakthrough. A cold Case review of the forensic evidence,

combined with a number of potential witnesses coming forward, has given

fresh impetus to this case. People have moved on. The intimidation that

existed 18 years ago is no longer there, and I am optimistic we will

unlock the truth. Police say Ian Grant was on the periphery of a

criminal network. He died moments after leaving his home. A doctor

discovered his body. Police believe Ian Grant was lured away from his

home. He ended up on this wasteland. Please believe the gunmen

were hidden below this dip out of view. He was then shot in the back

of the head. Police say the 24`year`old body`builder, who was

six foot five and worked as a nightclub doormen in St Ives, had

plans to build a business. He had ambition. He wanted to be a

successful operator of door staff, and he was getting there. We know

team made enemies on the way. He also made a number of enemies. We

want to know what those vendettas were, he was involved, and why. At a

news conference at the time, Ian Grant's girlfriend appealed for

information to catch the killer who used a pistol. Her car was set

alight two weeks before his death. Ian Grant worked at this club. In

the 90s, the door security industry was not regulated like it is today.

Now, people are coming forward with information on the case. The tech is

say they plan to knock on doors of potential witnesses in the next few

days. Smokers have given a cool reception

to calls for the NHS to ban smoking anywhere on hospital premises. Most

of the region's hospitals have signs forbidding smoking, but the bans are

rarely enforced. One smokers' rights group said it was the job of the NHS

to care for patients, not to "nag, cajole or bully smokers to quit."

For some people, the cravings are just too strong. Addenbrooke's

Hospital in Cambridge have rules on where people can smoke, but they are

often ignored. From next year, it will be banned completely across the

whole site, and people wanting to light up will have to leave the

grounds. If you want to smoke, they should have an area where you can

and keep it away from people who don't want to see it. Nowhere near

the hospital. It would help me because I would not want to come out

and find somewhere to smoke. Opposite the main entrance here,

they used to be a smoking shelter. It has been taken away, but still

patients, staff and visitors come over here for a smoke. This site has

gone smoke`free before, in 2006, but after three years they gave up. Some

staff said they encountered aggression, and sometimes even

violence, when they asked smokers to stop. Our concerns about the

implementation. When patients are stressed, it is hard to ask them to

leave the premises to have a cigarette. Managers say the hospital

should lead by example. We can no longer be composted in supporting

smoking by allowing it to be on site, when we are here to try and do

the best we can to make our patients as healthy as possible. So, will

this ban help smokers kick the habit, or simply provoked an angry

backlash? What is the situation where you

work? Do get in touch. In football, the Peterborough United

chairman Darragh MacAnthony says his players are "choking", and are on a

"pathetic" run. Posh were beaten 3`2 by Brentford last night to stretch

their losing streak in League One to five games and drop to fifth in the

table. Elsewhere, Northampton remain bottom of League Two, but secured a

crucial point at Chesterfield. There was better news for Southend who

climbed to third with victory at Portsmouth.

If you're a fan of Peterborough United, you will be wondering where

it is all going wrong. The campaign started well enough, but a run of

six games without a wind has seen Darren Ferguson's side fall ten

point drift of the two. Against Linford they were leading 2`1 with

only ten minister go, but a lack of concentration at the back proved

costly. Colchester recorded their first wind in seven games against MK

dons will stop Craig Eastman put the home side ahead. Southend boss Phil

Brown praised his side's resilience. I got off to the worst possible

start, thanks to this wonder goal. Then they lost their substitute

after only four minutes on the pitch. But it seemed to inspire

Southend. Two second`half goals mean they climbed to third in the table.

They showed plenty of Clark chasing Chesterfield, ending a run of four

successive away defeats. When it comes to artists like Damien

Hirst and Tracey Emin it seems the great British public is divided.

Contemporary art can be like Marmite ` you either love it or hate it. Now

there's a new collection of contemporary art at the University

Campus Suffolk. Part of the collection is on show and Mike

Liggins has been to have a look at it. The collection is that the

University College building on the waterfront in Ipswich. Over 120

works, it is the idea of two internationally known artists. In a

unique model, all the artists have donated their work to the

collection. What we have not established yet is what we are going

to do with it. It has arrived in a short amount of time, and actually,

now we have got to work out how we pull it apart and use it for student

purposes, for external purposes, whether it will stay here or be sent

out on tour to other venues. It represents the forest. This man is a

third`year final art student at the university. He thinks the collection

is an inspiration. I am thinking of collaborating with a few artists to

be part of a collection as big as this. I think people do sometimes

find contemporary art quite difficult. They are not necessarily

sure how to react. I love it. I am not a great fan of challenging art.

I like something that represents an image, but I can appreciate the time

and effort that goes into it. It is fantastic. Is it OK to think it is

rubbish? Yes, maybe not rubbish, maybe you don't understand

something. You have to accept that what they do is meaningful for them.

The collection is on show until January 16 and the exhibition is

free. That is the second time he has had

headphones on this week! Good evening. This sunset shot was

sent in by a viewer. We have actually had high pressure over the

UK for a week now, and that is not necessarily a good thing at time of

year. This has brought a lot of cloud. We also have this warm front

moving in overnight, last night and this morning, which brought us some

patchy rain. It introduced some less cold F. `` air. Visibility is not

great. It is not going to be particularly cold. Temperatures will

only get down to about four Celsius, so we should not have any frost

worries tonight. We start tomorrow in a similar vein to today. Maybe a

glimmer of brightness, but on the whole, the day stays white cloudy.

Light winds and tides of eight or nine Celsius. Looking ahead, it

starts to change because we say goodbye to the high pressure and the

cloudy conditions, and say hello to this lively area of low pressure,

which will push this cold front across us. The main feature of it

will not be the rain, it will be the strength of the wind, and that will

make it feel considerably colder. Temperatures will fall away during

the day, and that wind will be the factor in how our weather feels.

Brighter, sunny spells from Friday. The chance of some coastal showers.

Overnight, tempered as will fall away. `` temperatures. On Sunday,

high`pressure moves back in and we start to go back to where we are

now. We will be back tomorrow. Good

night.