:00:00. > :00:09.Good evening. on the BBC News Channel, and I'll be
:00:10. > :00:12.A Gloucester man with a rare stomach condition has been
:00:13. > :00:14.told he can't have an operation even though it could save
:00:15. > :00:19.Gareth Pope suffers from Gastroparesis.
:00:20. > :00:23.But the NHS wont operate, bdcause his case isn't exceptional dnough.
:00:24. > :00:26.Here's our Gloucestershire reporter, Steve Knibbs.
:00:27. > :00:32.Gareth Pope needs a cocktail of daily drugs to ease his pain
:00:33. > :00:36.Gastroparesis means his stolach does not empty normally so he has to be
:00:37. > :00:42.The cost of his drugs and benefits because he cannot
:00:43. > :00:48.Yet an operation costing ?14,00 to ?20,000,
:00:49. > :00:51.which could help him to lead a normal life will not be ftnded.
:00:52. > :00:58.The fact that I have hardly ever been to the doctors or anything
:00:59. > :01:05.before this and now all I nded is a bit of help and I'm not getting any.
:01:06. > :01:07.In a statement of the Gloucestershire Clinhcal
:01:08. > :01:10.Commissioning Group said thdy were sorry that Gareth was still
:01:11. > :01:29.The operation which will effectively fit a pacemaker to get Gareth's
:01:30. > :01:35.stomach working as a 65% ch`nce of success and is recognised bx NICE.
:01:36. > :01:40.The fact that they could spdnd ?15,000 to ?20,000 and improve
:01:41. > :01:44.my life, I could go back to work and cut down on medication `nd then
:01:45. > :01:50.obviously I would be contributing back into the country with Tax and
:01:51. > :01:52.National Insurance which I've done all my life anyway
:01:53. > :01:57.This CCG said it would look at any new clinical information
:01:58. > :01:59.from Gareth doctors and explore other treatments.
:02:00. > :02:02.But his MP is now taking up the case saying the benefits for Gardth and
:02:03. > :02:06.the economy of having the operation I just too obvious to ignord.
:02:07. > :02:12.Steve Knibbs, BBC Midlands Today, Gloucester.
:02:13. > :02:14.The Labour MP for Walsall North David Winnick,
:02:15. > :02:17.has expressed concern that six of the region's NHS trusts `re in
:02:18. > :02:23.The University Hospital of North Staffordshire is in the red
:02:24. > :02:30.The figures, obtained from Lonitor, the Trust Development Authority
:02:31. > :02:32.and the House of Commons Library, show NHS finances have gone
:02:33. > :02:38.backwards in every English region since the General Election.
:02:39. > :02:41.It certainly need more fundhng than it is getting at the moment.
:02:42. > :02:44.Would you give it more fundhng, a future Labour government?
:02:45. > :02:47.It certainly did so last tile, whatever may happen in the future no
:02:48. > :02:50.one disputes as far as I understand, the Conservative party does not
:02:51. > :02:54.dispute the very substantial extra funding that has gone into the NHS
:02:55. > :03:00.from the last Labour governlent and I'm very pleased about that
:03:01. > :03:03.One of the main routes out of Birmingham has been shut for most
:03:04. > :03:05.of the day after an accident overnight damaged safety barriers.
:03:06. > :03:09.It happened on the A38M Aston Expressway, leadhng to
:03:10. > :03:14.Outbound traffic had to be diverted around the closure.
:03:15. > :03:17.The Highways Agency said it needed to clear the road
:03:18. > :03:22.and repair the barriers before traffic could be allowed back.
:03:23. > :03:25.It's a town that's been a vhctim of events in recent years
:03:26. > :03:28.from flooding to major roadworks with the result that many shoppers
:03:29. > :03:32.But now businesses in Evesham are fighting back.
:03:33. > :03:35.Independent retailers in the town have set up
:03:36. > :03:38.their own customer loyalty scheme which they hope will also hdlp
:03:39. > :03:44.Evesham's independent retailers are making sure
:03:45. > :03:50.The costumes may be a gimmick but their new trading initiativd is not.
:03:51. > :03:53.The recent closure of the towns main bridge for 6
:03:54. > :03:56.months was not just frustrating but damaged many businesses.
:03:57. > :03:59.I actually had to remortgagd and I've moved into a smalldr shop
:04:00. > :04:05.It's tough can people come back from this, are they hoping they can
:04:06. > :04:09.We are really hoping to comd back from that which is why the traders
:04:10. > :04:13.are working together to say that they are now open for busindss.
:04:14. > :04:16.And they have come up with a new customer loyalty card.
:04:17. > :04:18.It is so important that all of the independent businessds come
:04:19. > :04:22.together as a big group, a big group has a big voice.
:04:23. > :04:25.We have a brand`new bridge now, it is going to be here
:04:26. > :04:27.for another hundred years, I won't worry about that ag`in.
:04:28. > :04:31.The sun is out, when the sun is out there is no better placd to
:04:32. > :04:34.The scheme is also helping the towns heritage.
:04:35. > :04:37.Because every time a loyalty card is filled in,
:04:38. > :04:39.local retailers will make a small contribution to to the presdrvation
:04:40. > :04:45.People are behind it, we have 70 businesses signed up to
:04:46. > :04:50.Many shoppers are in Eveshal for the Vale's Fresh Food F`ir.
:04:51. > :04:57.I do try, I do try to support the local businesses yeah.
:04:58. > :05:02.I pop in for a few bits but not necessarily the main weekly shop.
:05:03. > :05:06.The hope now is the loyalty scheme will persuade more shoppers
:05:07. > :05:15.Let's have a look at the weather now.
:05:16. > :05:21.lovely day today, despite the high pollen count
:05:22. > :05:27.Just a little bit of cloud development taking place
:05:28. > :05:32.We may see a small amount of mist forming overnight.
:05:33. > :05:35.But the temperatures will drop down to a minimum of 12dC.
:05:36. > :05:37.Another warm day in store tomorrow and again the pollen count
:05:38. > :05:43.A lot of sunshine in the afternoon but just a chance
:05:44. > :05:46.of a shower forming, mainly across the southern part of the patch.
:05:47. > :05:49.The daytime temperatures tomorrow 24dC.
:05:50. > :05:54.The outlook for the next few days, definitely some sunshine but a bit
:05:55. > :06:01.Join me for the late bullethn at 22:15PM
:06:02. > :06:11.East Anglia. Down towards the south coast and widespread blue skies are
:06:12. > :06:14.likely to be yours. Scotland should improve as the hours go by.
:06:15. > :06:18.Something you do need to bear in mind is the risk of some showers
:06:19. > :06:23.developing, heavy across eastern Scotland, southern and eastern
:06:24. > :06:27.England in the afternoon. They could be isolated but sharp if you're
:06:28. > :06:28.caught in them. Highs up to 25 or