31/07/2013 Midlands Today

coming to you tonight live from Stafford. The headlines: Sweeping

changes announced at Stafford Hospital - critical care and

maternity services are to go. We are doing this because services

will become unsafe if no changes are made.

What next for health care in the town? We'll be hearing from

campaigners who fought to save their hospital. We are going to have

mothers and babies dying. How you can you have an A&E without critical

care? Also delight, the mother and her partner who murdered -- also

tonight, the parents who starved Daniel pelka to death. I have never

faced a case like this. Saving on landfill, the commercial

waste from Birmingham being used to fuel a cement mix -- works in

Warwickshire. And although it didn't look very

much like it today, we're on the brink of some hot and humid weather.

Good evening from the centre of Stafford, where local people are

tonight trying to comprehend the scale of sweeping changes

recommended this afternoon for their local hospital. In a nutshell, the

administrators say that the hospital trust will be dissolved, with

critical care, maternity and paediatric services cut at Stafford.

Cannock Chase Hospital is largely unaffected. This is what the

administrators said this afternoon. Think of the package that we are now

offering. In many areas, the services are enhanced. For reasons

of clinical safety, in one or two areas of relatively small volume, we

are recommending, on safety grounds, that those sick people go

to a larger regional Hospital where they will be cared for most safely.

More than 50,000 people signed a petition to save Stafford Hospital -

the same number of protesters took part in a march and rally in April

in the square where I'm standing tonight.

So what's the reaction been to today's news? Our Staffordshire

reporter Liz Copper has been finding out.

In this play centre on the outskirts of Stafford, young families were

taking in views of the planned changes. -- row taking in news.

James was born at Stafford Hospital, and so was his mum, who is expecting

her second baby at the end of this year. My son was born here two years

ago, and he was born really quickly. If this one is born really -- just

as quick, it will be a worry to get there on time. Many agreed with

those views. My children were born in Stafford Hospital, and my

grandchildren as well. So I really do not know what the future is going

to hold, and I fear for the people of Stafford. Pregnant ladies in

Stafford, if they need to go in an ambulance straight to hospital, how

far will they have to go? It will put them at health risk, I think it

is a real terrible shame. Following developments from their

headquarters in a shop, members of the support Stafford Hospital

campaign. Critical care? How can you have an A&E without critical care?

You cannot. The fight starts today. This is just a recommendation. And

believe me, the group will carry on fighting and we will not give up. A

micro-rich to the hospital have been decorated with ribbons. It is a

high-profile crusade to stop cuts. The administrators say without major

change, the future of local parents -- patient safety is at stake.

Earlier this year 30,000 protesters marched through the centre of

Stafford, and it looks like the further protests will follow. The

leader of the County Council has called for the Government to port

all care and social care in Staffordshire in the hands of a

single NHS Trust. Our biggest fear is that the fragile the already

fragile framework in Staffordshire. The worst thing that could happen is

that they are fractured and put to other hospitals outside the

country. Families have until October to comment on these plans. Everyone

with a stake in Stafford Hospital's future is being urged to take part

in that process. Joining me now are two nurses at

Stafford Hospital, Heather Gough and Mark Savile. They spoke out on

Midlands Today in June about the problems circling around the

hospital. What is your reaction to did a's

News? I think it is bittersweet. Very relieved for the A&E department

that we are going to continue. As long as that is a sustained

continuation of services. My fear would be that if we were allowed to

die slowly, I hope that will not happen. For paediatrics and

maternity ethic it is a disaster. I am a sixth generation native of

Stafford, and to think there will be no more babies born in Stafford is a

sad day for this town and for Staffordshire. Maternity services

are excellent in our hospital, and paediatric services work well as

well, so I think to take them away from the people of Stafford is an

absolute disaster for the public. I am sure there will be a lot of

opposition to that. What are your feelings? It is no time for nurses

and doctors to have a voice. It is time for the staff to speak up. --

wrote it is now time. -- it is no time. It is a call for nurses to

halt what is really the downsizing of the NHS. Don't you think it is

better than you expected, because of what has not happened to A&E?

A&E nurse I saw a small victory today, but I also see a huge battle

on the horizon. We really have to fight now. You spoke movingly about

the morale and hospital -- in the hospital. How are things at the

moment? Following the march, the staff were... It was twice around

the world in distance, for one mile, and everybody walked to the

hospital from here. It was just incredible, and it linked the morale

so much. The patients coming into A&E now, the approach to us is

different, because they are supporting us and they know we are

here for them. Every A&E department still has its problems and still has

difficult times, but we are doing our best in difficult circumstances

even today. What do you feel happens now? Obviously this is not the end

of the road from all the various decisions that have been announced

today. Yes, there is a consultation process now. I think that finishes

at the end of December. I think what needs to happen now is people need

to be heard, people need to have an opinion, people need to fight.

you very much for talking to us tonight.

At seven o'clock tonight, just around the corner from here, more

than 200 people are expected at a public meeting to consider today's

announcement. It's been organised by Stafford's Conservative MP Jeremy

Lefroy, who joins me now. Mr Lefroy, your reaction to today's news?

think it is mixed. There are some very good things, because first of

all -- which first of all Stafford will be -- remain an acute district

Hospital. We will retain our A&E and acute services will remain. But as

has been pointed out, maternity and paediatrics will be cut. I will be

fighting that. I think it is vital that we continue to have, for

children born in Stafford, local parents need that service to be

available locally. That seems to be the real headline about maternity

services. Yes, what we must not forget is that a few months ago we

were looking at losing our A&E and acute services. We have had a big

step forward on that. Do you feel people have listened to you? Yes, I

think the march had a big impact. The administrators had a real --

made a real effort to change their plans. But we need to find ways of

persuading them and also the national Government, that is my job

as member of Parliament, I have to take the fight to the Government.

Ultimately the consultation goes back to the administrators, and

finally to the Secretary of State. I have already made it clear to the

Secretary of State and the Prime Minister himself that we have --

need maternity and associated paediatrics here in Stafford. I have

to say the Prime Minister, who fought a similar battle over his own

hospital in Banbury, understood that. This is critical for you

politically. I am concerned about the people. Yes, but it will

translate to the ballot box. At the moment by only concern is about

getting that is -- with this right for the people of Stafford. This is

about 20, 30, 40 years. I will not be here, but people would need those

services. What is your assessment of the mood of people in the town?

think firstly people seem relieved that the hospital is not going to

close, but they want to continue the fight for maternity and paediatrics,

and I would add critical care, which still is there but at level two. I

would like to see that as part of the national infrastructure, so that

is another aspect we will be taking up strongly in the consultation --

consultation. Some A nurse who was struck off the nursing register

after she lied about waiting times in Accident and Emergency at

Stafford Hospital has resigned from her post.

Other news associated with the hospital.

Tracy White, seen here in the orange top was disciplined by a Nursing and

Midwifery Council panel last week. She'd been working as a manager at

the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.

We'll have more from Stafford later in the programme. Now though, it's

back to Mary in the studio for a look at the rest of the day's news.

A mother and her partner have been found guilty of murdering her

for-year-old son Daniel pelka. A jury at Birmingham Crown Court

convicted Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek after hearing that

the child was subjected to months of cruelty. The boy's murder, which

occurred weeks after teaching staff saw him with bruising and back --

black eyes, is the subject of a serious case review. The pair will

be sentenced on Friday. This report contains details some viewers might

The desperate cries of a mother pleading for help to save her son.

But the reality was, this was the final attempt by Magdelena Luczak

and Mariusz Krezolek took on the authorities about Daniel. He had

been subjected in fact to unbelievable cruelty for six

unbelievable cruelty for six months. This was a pre-medicated,

preplanned and prolonged murder of this little boy, and it was teamwork

between both stepfather and mother that work very well together to

achieve Daniel's death. Daniel started school in September 2011. By

the time of his death his body was likened to that of a concentration

camp victim. Police who investigated Daniel's story remain baffled as to

the adult -- adult systematic motivation for torturing him.

turned Daniel from a beautiful bright eyed little boy into a bag of

bones, basically. And sort of broke him in so many ways. Daniel's final

hours were spent alone on your insult mattress docked in a room

with no handle, no missed -- escape. But in the months after his death,

official agencies were aware of the family. The persons responsible were

very cunning, very response -- plausible. The mother was very

convincing and told a number of lies to conceal what was happening to

Daniel. Magdelena Luczak and Mariusz Krezolek moved around the area

regularly. Both Warwickshire and West Midlands Police were called out

to the couple to investigate allegations of domestic violence.

Questions over the roles of agencies remain unanswered. Education

officials investigated Daniel's poor school attendance. The NHS were told

he had an eating disorder. Health visitors visited the home but never

saw him. And the deceit of an underlying eating problem was

repeated to teachers. They were told not to allow Daniel any extra food.

They complied, and reprimanded Daniel when he scavenged for food in

bins. Little Heath primary school refused to speak to journalists, but

issued this video to the media. Daniel remembered -- will be

remembered by all who knew him. His death has had a devastating impact

on our community. Daniel's birth father told the court he had split

up with Magdelena Luczak in 2008 and returned to his native Poland. He

never saw his son again. He says he hates those responsible but feels

his son at least is no longer suffering. I think as a small

innocent boy, I think he has gone up there to heaven, and I think... It

is hard to talk about it. The death of the schoolboy has stunned

Coventry's Polish community, who have said prayers for the boy they

never knew. The whole congregation was in shock that something like

this could have happened on our doorstep. While child murders are

rare, they always prompt questions about how adults can hurt those they

are supposed to care for. The public protection unit of West Midlands

Police have investigated the deaths of dozens of children over the last

five years, sadly Daniel's story is yet another to be added to the list

of innocent victims. Five men have been jailed for 53

years for their part in a plot that resulted in bonds being planted in

homes in the Staffordshire Rowlands. They were found guilty of charges

relating to the conspiracy or to cause explosions on making threats

to kill, and were jailed for between five and 16 years each. No one was

hurt by the bombs at three addresses last August.

The return of a direct rail link between Shropshire and London has

been blocked, after the office for rail regulation reflects -- rejected

virgin's appeal to operate a new train service. Virgin had planned to

start services as early as December. Business leaders had been

campaigning for a return of the service, which was stopped in

January 2011. The websites of more than 260 payday

loan firms have been blocked from computers in libraries in Sandwell.

The borough council has taken the decision because it believes the

interest the firms charge is too high. It's urging residents to seek

advice and help elsewhere. All 350 computers at 19 libraries in the

area have been now been modified. The Government has announced were

�37 million of funding for new charging points for electric cars

will be spent. Worcestershire is to get �450,000, while Dudley will

benefit from �150,000. We have new models coming on stream for all the

major manufacturers, and there is demand out there for these

vehicles. We have to make sure the infrastructure is in place, because

one of the innovations if you like from the public will be, can I

charge my car? You cannot have that cars being sold without the points

being there to charge The criteria to apply to buy one of Stoke on

Trent's so-called "one pound houses" has been relaxed after a lack of

suitable candidates. Them on.

Current guidelines mean applicants must live in the area and not earn a

joint income of more than �30,000. Under the new rules, applicants who

work in the city but don't live there will be considered. So far 600

people have applied for the offer, but fewer than 35 were deemed

suitable. Commercial waste collected from

across Birmingham is being used to fuel a kiln at a cement works in

Warwickshire. The waste, which would normally go to landfill, is instead

being turned into Climafuel - which is an alternative to coal. Bob

Hockenhull reports. It is a dirty business saving the planet, but here

at this factory metals and plastics are removed and what is left is

creating an alternative fuel to coal. It is a fluffy material, but

it mainly contains small bits of contaminated polythene, and

cardboard, Stech style is, that sort of material -- textiles. This

material has now been shredded, and it is that which is destined to go

in the kilns in rugby. Temperatures of 1400 Celsius must be generated in

the kiln before -- to heat up the chocolate clay used to make cement.

Traditionally, Cole has been burned to achieve this.

It is very, very effective, and we are now running at a substitution

level of 65%. We are hoping to get 85% very soon. This lorry has just

pulled in from the -- Birmingham full of the alternative fuel. And

maybe soon it will not just be supplied from Birmingham. At the top

of the cement works there is a view of land next to the site where a new

ClimaFuel site could soon be built. Subject to planning permission it

will be up and running next year. For neither, there is 100,000 tonnes

of industrial waste being delivered to create the alternative fuel.

Waste that if it were not for this project, would be polluting the

planet by being sent to landfill sites.

Now back to Nick, in the centre of Stafford with tonight's main story.

Welcome Baxter Stafford. This afternoon it was recommended that

afternoon it was recommended that the mid Staffordshire NHS Trust is

dissolved, and critical care amended, maternity and paediatric

services cut at Stafford. Kaneko Hospital will retain all current

services and to -- could take on extra surgery cases. This evening a

public meeting is taking place down the road. That is where we find my

the road. That is where we find my colleague. What is the There is a

lot of anger here, I have been speaking to some of the several

hundred people who have come through the doors already. They are

expecting upwards of 400 here tonight. They are saying they have

the utmost faith in the hospital and the staff of that hospital, but it

is not the hospital it was, in fact it is now one of the best in the

West Midlands is not in the whole country. I have with me the leader

of Stafford Borough Council. Obstetrics to go, paediatrics to go

but edited to go, and the dissolution of the trust. How do you

respond? -- maternity to go. I think these are very disappointing moves.

The simple fact is, there is a lot of anger among the community, when

our basic services are taking -- taken away. But it could have been

far worse, A&E for example was touted to go. Yes, obviously the

fact we still have the continuing is a good proposal. Some of the other

proposals made are quite acceptable, but as a package as a whole, you

have got some good bits but the majority of it is disadvantaged to

the local people. These recommendations. Where does it go

now from your point of view? We have to make as big a noise as we in the

consultation. It starts next Tuesday, and only administrators

will come in with the final recommendation to the Secretary of

State, and we can lobby the Secretary of State as well. Health

campaigners in Lewisham today turning round an earlier decision.

You can go to age additional review -- judicial review. Yes, I am not

ruling that out at all. The public consultation runs until October. It

will probably provoke a lot of comments.

I am joined now by our health correspondent. What is the standout

development today? The key issue is that there will not be any babies

born in Stafford at all, and that is the hardest to come to terms with,

because if you look at the evidence and run travel times to hospitals,

there is a correlation between travel times and safety for babies.

There is also enough consultants in this part of the world, so it is

more difficult for them to argue there is a problem in that

particular area. What about the political implications? Clearly if

you look back to Kidderminster in the 1990s, what happened there led

to the unseating of the local MP, and Richard Taylor was brought in.

Labour tonight are making hay about the fact that services are being

closed in this part of the world, and I understand also that Richard

Taylor's party is talking to somebody in this part of the world

about standing against the sitting MP. What are the implications for

other hospitals? We heard about problems in Worcestershire and

Shropshire for instance. Most of the hospitals in our region are

struggling with finances, and basically Stafford is the

blueprint, it has gone first. They are hoping that what has been done

here, all the work that has been put into getting this right will go on

elsewhere. We are only seeing Cheltenham going back from 24 hours

service to a 14 hour service. We are likely to see this in other

hospitals. hospitals.

Let us talk about the weather now. It is a sign of things improving,

but tomorrow there will be a huge transformation. It is hotting up

very nicely indeed. But it is going to be brief, it is with us tomorrow

and then gone by Friday. So although it is a small burst of heat, it will

be nonetheless very effective and could produce the hottest day of the

year so far particularly for the south-east of the country.

Meanwhile, let's talk about rain. There has been plenty of this week,

we had the deluge on Saturday night and then thunderstorms ever since,

and also today's rain. Taking a look at the figures there, the

measurements don't really reflect too much rain. I suspect that is

because the thunderstorms have been very localised, but the rain today

probably makes up most of those figures. The wettest part in the

region was Coleshill in Warwickshire with around one inch of rain. The

rain for the moment for the time being is right in the north of the

region, and that will clear. Once it does, the air behind it is very

warming. Right now, this evening, we are looking at heavy outbreaks of

rain still across the northern fringes of the region, but once that

has cleared by tonight, it is looking much drier. We will see that

interest as well through river valleys and through the hilltops by

dawn. Temperatures down to only 17 Celsius for most places, so it will

be fit and very warm night, and that humidity already beginning to

increase. -- wrote it will be a very warm night. Tomorrow morning it will

be dry, sunny and very warm, temperatures into higher 20s. It

will be humoured as well. Tomorrow night, increasing cloud, producing