23/11/2017 Look East

he hopes to prove the earnings

forecasts wrong.

In Look East this lunchtime.

Tears and cheers, as a BBC TV

programme and a team

of local volunteers transform

the lives of a disabled

man and his family.

Hospital appointment letters

appealing for donations.

An MP brands it

"unacceptable begging".

It is chilly today but it will get

even colder at the weekend.

I'll have the full

forecast later in the

programme.

Hello.

The lives of a disabled man and his

family have been transformed,

thanks to a BBC TV programme

and a team of local

volunteers in Mildenhall.

Simon Dobbin was left brain-damaged,

after being attacked by a gang

of football hooligans in Southend.

Since then, his wife has

become his full-time carer.

But their home wasn't fit to deal

with his complex needs.

This morning, though,

that changed.

Day ten of the Big Build and some

last-minute touches, more than 100

volunteers first gutted and

transformed the small terraced house

in London football. Nick Knowles led

the way as Simon's wife and

daughter, eyes shut, were taken

through their new front door.

We have seen the very worst of

humanity, and the best of humanity

represented with one family. It lead

to injuries for some of which were

horrific. The fact he has a life

sentence himself with his injuries.

And his wife who has become a carer

rather than a wife. And his daughter

who misses his father -- her father.

Firms donated materials, builders,

plumbers, electricians giving their

labour free.

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The field was fantastic. I am

privileged to be a part of it.

What is going on in the world today,

and yet there are these good-hearted

people.

A great bunch of lads, good

camaraderie.

I am going to miss them.

The manager

had praise for them all.

115 people a day have turned up to

get Simon back into this house,

which is amazing. They turned up for

a reason. They built this house with

love. It wasn't a normal building

site, built with love and passion.

After their first viewing of their

new home, Nicole and Emily emerged

to wild applause.

The designer looking on.

Everything is to my taste which

shocked me. Everything is perfect,

nothing will be changed.

Good old Lawrence. He has done a

cracker of a job. Really made us

feel so proud that they have

listened to our likes and dislikes

and made a home of this and to what

we wanted and put it into place.

Simon couldn't be here today, he is

in Addenbrooke's Hospital recovering

from a chest infection.

But DIY SOS and dozens of good

people have ensured his home is

somewhere he can live with dignity.

A man from Luton's just been

given a six-year sentence

for terrorist offences.

22-year-old Mubashir Jamil told

an undercover officer he would blow

himself up in Britain if he couldn't

travel to Syria to fight

for so-called Islamic State.

The Metropolitan Police have

released footage of his arrest.

The court heard he had a mental

illness and, as part

of his sentence, he'll be treated

in a secure psychiatric hospital.

The administrators say they're

hopeful they can find a buyer

for the furniture chain

Multiyork which went

into administration yesterday.

550 jobs are at risk,

200 of those are at its

factory in Thetford.

There are 50 stores around the UK,

and they will continue to trade

until at least Christmas.

This was the reaction

of shoppers in Norwich today.

Yes, it seems quite sad.

All the years there's been a big

company I believe at the Thetford

factory as such.

It seems quite sad, yes.

It's just another thing

off the high street

going.

Disappointing, really,

because, look at the places

that are closing down.

I've never heard of it, no.

More details have emerged

about plans to merge

the Luton and Dunstable

and Bedford Hospitals.

A public

meeting this morning was told that

Bedford Hospital's £40 million

deficit is expected

to be written off,

as part of the merger.

Staff would work as a single team

across Bedfordshire, although both

hospitals would retain their name.

It's proposed they would

merge next April.

One of the region's leading

hospitals has been criticised

for including an appeal

for charitable donations

on its appointment letters.

Patients at the Norfolk and Norwich

are being asked to donate

in order to "provide

the highest quality service".

A local MP has described

the appeal as "unacceptable".

This is Belinda, with an appointment

letter from the Norfolk and

Norwich University Hospital.

When she received it

recently, Belinda was

surprised to see a paragraph

asking her to make a donation to the

hospital charity.

The appeal says, with

restrictions on public

funding, voluntary donations can

make a difference in supporting

additional medical equipment,

medical research and improvements to

medical facilities.

I appreciate the NHS is short

of funds, and I know

that they do get a lot of

money from fundraising,

often when people have

had their treatment.

But I think to get a letter

saying that they are

short of money and for high-quality

treatment, could you consider making

a donation, when you haven't even

been to the hospital yet, is

totally inappropriate.

The hospital has a Just Giving page

and people have long donated to

charity.

Last year, the charity

raised over £1 million,

but the appeal for funds on every

outpatient letter is now

raising eyebrows.

I think many people will be asking

themselves this question.

Today, we are putting

at the bottom of patient letters

a begging bowl, in effect,

asking the charitable funds for

basic hospital

equipment and services.

Today, it is an ask,

but tomorrow I think

some people may think it

could be a demand, it's a slippery

slope we are heading towards.

There will be a lot of people

who will be worried about this.

What do the public

think of this idea?

We did an unscientific

straw poll in Norwich

city centre.

I don't think that should be

on an official letter.

Why?

Because the health service

is funded through taxation.

We shouldn't have to rely

on donations for our health service.

Is it a sign of desperation,

do you think?

Yes, it is desperate times.

If the Government isn't

going to provide the money,

they have to get it from somewhere.

The hospital has turned downour

request for an interview but, in a

statement, a spokesperson told us,

donations to the charity make a

difference, and we are incredibly

grateful for the support we receive.

Mike Liggins, BBC

Look East, Norwich.

Thousands are expected

at Bury St Edmunds' Christmas Fayre

this year, which opens today.

It is now one of the biggest

in the country, with

over 300 trade stalls.

The weather now.

Here's

Elizabeth Rizzini.

Good afternoon.

A mild but rather wet

and windy start to the day.

Some squally bands

of rain tracking from

the west, behind it some

clearer but cooler air.

Some sunshine for

the rest of the day.

A bit more in the way

of fair weather cloud.

For the most part,

it should stay dry.

A blustery south-westerly wind.

Some sunshine.

Temperatures to start

the day, 12 Celsius.

It comes down in that cooler air.

In the afternoon,

around nine or ten.

This evening, dry

and clear first thing.

Then an area of cloud

and rain will spread

into the south.

Into Hertfordshire and Essex,

southern parts of Suffolk.

Further north of this line,

we get clear skies, and if we get

this, in the cooler air,

a touch of frost tomorrow morning.

A cloudy, damp start

towards the south.

A milder one as the

cloud clears away.

For everyone, plenty of sunshine

emerging through the morning

tomorrow.

That will last again

into the afternoon.

Feeling nicer tomorrow.

The air will be cooler,

but the winds will be lighter.

Highs of only eight degrees Celsius.

A cold feeling day tomorrow,

getting colder still at the weekend,

on Saturday, highs of six degrees.

A chilly north-westerly

wind developing.

Frost in more sheltered spots.

That's all for now.

But I hope you can join us

for Look East this evening, on

BBC One, at 6.30.

Until then, have a very

good afternoon.