12/12/2013 North West Tonight

Good evening, welcome to North West Tonight. Our top story: The

region's Air Ambulance Service grounds its fleet of helicopters

after technical concerns. Also tonight, the serious failings at two

GP practices which could have put patients at risk. Easy pickings,

patients at risk. Easy pickings police arrested 12 people as they

crack down on mobile phone thefts. And after the highs of football,

And after the highs of football life on the other side of the

camera. We help Fabrice Muamba with a career change. And overwhelmed, a

Christmas star for cancer carer Christine 12 years to the day after

it took her husband. Words cannot describe what this means. The North

West Air Ambulance service has been temporarily suspended after a fault

with a fuel gauge on one aircraft was detected. This led to the

grounding of around a third of the UK's emergency helicopters.

The aircraft accepted is the EC`135, the same model which crashed

in Glasgow last month telling ten people. We can join our reporter

live at Barton aerodrome. The aircraft behind me is one of

three EC`135s which normally work for the North West Air Ambulance

service. Bond Air Services described concerns over a fuel gauge on one of

the Northwest `based aircraft yesterday. They said it was a

precautionary measure, but it had a big impact on the work of the North

West air ambulance. This is the helipad at Wythenshawe Hospital in

Manchester and normally on any day of the week you would see a North

West Air Ambulance dropping down here to take casualties into the

emergency department, but not at the moment. The three Northwest air

ambulances are currently grounded. Their operators, Bond aviation,

yesterday discovered an indication defect. It was serious enough for

them to feel they had to keep the aircraft on the ground and carry out

investigations. North West Air Ambulance uses three EC`135s, the

same as the aircraft that crashed in Glasgow earlier this month.

Naturally enough they are being cautious about any technical

glitches that arise. This is the crew room where medical teams would

normally wait. It is empty at the moment. We can speak to the chief

executive. This must be terrible news for you. It is very sad, but it

is comforting to know that if there is a fault, it is being looked at.

It has not undermined your confidence in this aircraft? Not at

all, they are very high spec. Neighbouring air ambulance crews are

covering the Northwest at present. We have been to Cheshire and with

the rise in demand over the weekend it will be probably putting us under

more pressure. Normally the air ambulance would be able to get to

the region in ten minutes. Now they are coming in from other areas. That

the Ambulance Service dispatches the aircraft and they prioritise calls.

But some casualties may have to wait longer? Possibly, yes. The

investigation into the fault is continuing. The company also said

grounding the aircraft had been part of its commitment to ensuring the

best levels of safety. They say they have been working very closely with

helicopter manufacturers and as each helicopter is cleared it will go

back into service. A number have been cleared today. Not here in the

Northwest yet. But they are working as hard as they can to make sure

they are back in the skies as quickly as possible. I spoke to

Professor Graham Braithwaite, an aviation expert. It seems the

operator has chosen to suspend operation of that aircraft, so it is

not a grounding and it is not the regulator or the manufacturer

saying, do not fly. They had an indicator problem and it is a

precautionary response from an operator. How unusual is it for an

operator to take these measures? It operator to take these measures? It

is not a regular thing because the aircraft are incredibly reliable,

but at the same time is it is not unusual. This operator suffered a

fatal accident and in terrible circumstances and they want to be

extremely cautious, so it is not unusual in that sense. How long do

you think they will be grounded? unusual in that sense. How long do

you think they will be grounded The suspension may end up being hours or

not more than a day or two as they checked the aircraft. It may be that

all they find is a problem that is unique to a particular aircraft and

they can move on and inspect the fleet and get them up quickly. This

is a particular type of aircraft that is often used for emergency

services. Why is that? It is very popular because of its capability.

It can get into tight spots which they need to in order to take people

out of emergency situations. It can carry a lot of capability for the

police and the ambulance and is very flexible and genuinely very

reliable. Next tonight, dirty equipment, out of date vaccines and

staff whose records have never been checked, just some of the serious

problems found at two surgeries in the North West when inspectors went

in to do spot checks. The GP practices in Rochdale and Sale could

have left their patients open to infection. The Care Quality

Commission has given them deadlines to make radical improvements.

On a soggy day in Sale the news about the surgery is worse than the

weather and to some it comes as no surprise. The doctors forget about

everything they say they are going to do. They do not seem to be that

interested. This surgery is one of two in the Northwest and ten in the

country where major concerns have been raised about standards. The

other one is in Rochdale were inspectors found staff had not been

properly checked and their infection control system was poor, problems

they told the BBC they are addressing. Norris Road it was

worse. Emergency medicines and vaccines were out of date. There

were rusty floors and confidential records were clearly on display.

were rusty floors and confidential records were clearly on display I

have been in to try and talk to the doctor who told me his priority is

speaking to patients rather than speaking to us. He said he is

confident the right changes have been put in place so the surgery

will in future meet standards. But today doctors' groups fought back

and they said we should be encouraged that the Care Quality

Commission recognises the high standards of care provided by the

vast majority of GPs. And in Sale patients were also backing their GP.

He is superb and has done nothing but the right thing by me and my

grand daughter. Despite the newspaper reports and the puddles,

most patients were still more inclined to believe in their doctor

rather than the headlines. Doctor Rob Barnett, a GP in Liverpool, who

speaks for the British Medical Association, I guess you would echo

what was said at the end, believe the doctor rather than the

headlines. This is clearly sensationalism. We used to be

inspected. These were 900 practice that they have targeted, so in some

respects one is not surprised when it comes out with what it has come

out with. Most places have been open to scrutiny for much longer. No, we

to scrutiny for much longer. No we have had a problem with inspections

in the last few years. With reorganisation in the NHS, practices

have not been inspected. So have things slipped? In some cases things

that would have been picked up earlier have not been picked up. We

all have to make sure vaccines are in date, fridges are at the right

temperature, but with the pressures we are and there with the increasing

amount of work coming through and out of hospitals into the

community, I can understand in some cases certain things slipping. Is

there any excuse for a vaccines to be given if they are out of date?

No, there is no excuse and I would find it hard that anyone would give

an out of date that scene. There may be some in the fridge, but the first

thing you look at when you get a vaccine is you check it is in date.

Again the way the headline has been written is unfortunate. I am not

sure the practice is unfortunate. I am not sure the practices knew they

were going to be named and shamed. This is the Care Quality Commission

that has told the story. If a practice is judged to be substandard

and does not improve, what censorship should be taken?

Ultimately the practice can be taken away and there are procedures to

enable that to happen. But the vast majority want to provide a good

service and if somebody says there is something deficient, we aim to

put it right. If a patient pointed something out, most practices would

be very receptive to that. We appreciate your time. Five people

injured in a gas blast in Salford three years ago have secured a

financial settlement to help with the costs of their recovery. 200

the costs of their recovery. 20 homes were evacuated after the blast

which happened at a house on Merlin Road in Irlam. Earlier this year gas

fitter Paul Kay pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety

guidelines. He was fined ?1000 after the work he had carried out led to

the explosion. Drivers who use the new Mersey Gateway bridge will have

to pay ?2 each way when it opens. Local residents will get 300 free

journeys a year and discounts will also be available for other regular

users. The link will connect Runcorn with Widnes and provide an

alternative to the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge, which will also

become a toll road in 2017. Two Tranmere Rovers players arrested

over allegations of match fixing returned to the club for the first

time today. Ian Goodison and Akpo Sodje met with Rovers officials the

first meeting since being questioned at the weekend by police

investigating the claims. And a violin which accompanied Frank

Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior and Dame Shirley Bassey has been donated to

Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music. The instrument was made in

1762 and is worth around ?120,0 0. 1762 and is worth around ?120,0 0.

It was left to them by Christine Bradbury Sullivan, a graduate of the

college, who died in October. It was her wish that it was used by a

student following its restoration. Police searching for a missing

Merseyside man have recovered a body from the Albert Dock. Officers have

been looking for James Bennion since he went missing on Sunday morning.

The 20`year`old postman vanished after a night out with friends in

the Concert Square area of Liverpool. Merseyside police who

have spent five days searching for James Bennion this afternoon

recovered an as yet unidentified body from Albert Dock. James Bennion

was on a night out with friends in Liverpool on Saturday evening. In

the early hours of Sunday morning he was separated from his group leaving

a bar and was due to meet them in a club later. He never arrived.

20`year`old James Bennion was today described by friends as a quiet

young man, dedicated to his job with the Royal Mail. He was a nice lad.

You would never have arguments with him, he was quiet and he would keep

himself to himself. Police say the body will now be formally

identified. Still to come: After the highs of

football, Fabrice Muamba learned the ropes on the other side of the

camera. And Christine is a real Christmas star as she is thanked for

her work with cancer patients. We have had a new recruit around the

office, a man you may have heard of, footballer Fabrice Muamba. The

former Bolton midfielder had to retire from the game after his heart

stopped during a match. Now he is looking to the future and is

studying for a qualification in sports journalism. He spent the past

couple of weeks with our sports team here and he must be the most famous

person we have ever had. This was effectively the end of his

old life, Fabrice Muamba saying thank you and farewell to fans at

the Reebok Stadium. He had to retire from the game after suffering a

heart attack during a match in March, 2012. This is the start of

his new life as a trainee sports journalist. He was at Bury football

club today covering the appointment of their new manager. Things happen

for a reason and I had the right people at the right time you went

there and they did a good job on me and from then on I had to move on

and I am grateful and I enjoy every single second I am here. You have

got a lot to look forward to? A lot and I am looking forward to

finishing this cause. He is spending a few weeks with our team to gather

experience while taking that university course in sports

journalism. And he's getting bizarre experiences like meeting the Harlem

globetrotter is in the changing rooms at Everton's training ground.

When you really want to be a player you have to put all your energy and

your mentality and your focus on improving yourself to be a player.

When you are a player you have to sustain that ability. To be a

journalist I need to put the same attitude I had in football into

journalism and hopefully that will help me to go forward. You were very

keen on young players... Letting go of football has been difficult. It

could have been a lot worse than this, so I have to accept the fact

that football is no longer my number one priority. What I am doing now I

enjoy because I can get behind`the`scenes, which is great. A

man who arrived in England are refugee of Civil War is used to

overcoming adversity and a bright future beckons.

It has been great to have him around and he has such a beaming smile He

is really enjoying it here. They have been throwing him in at

the deep end. The sports team have given him the microphone at a couple

of news conferences. But that is not the end because it

was his television debut. So he went to the J.D. Stadium were leaked to

bury were introducing their new manager today and here is his

report. 122 games and led to come back as a manager this must be a

dream country. With out a doubt. When I came here as a player, the

fans took me on board and they saw there was an honesty and integrity

to my game and there was a real fit between the player and the

supporters, so I had consistent football and I had a good time as a

player. Have you set a target that you will be happy with at the end of

the season? There are certain performances I want to improve, I

want to improve results, I want to improve the coaching staff. You have

come into the club and you have assessed the players. What sort of

player do you want to bring into the club? Physical attributes to get

around the pitch, intelligent energy, respectful, disciplined his

energy, respectful, disciplined, his lifestyle will be good and he will

have to sacrifice everything for an opportunity to work with the group.

Selfish, athletic, dynamic, all the things I believe in a football team

starts with an individual. If we have to bring three players in, we

have got to have 60 targets. There is going to be a lot of work over

the next two weeks. I was doing a bit with him, some training...

And you taught him how to ask the right questions? No, I was teaching

him the autocue. But then I could not get out there and play in front

of 70,000 people. He said what we did was nerve wracking.

We are talking about the Europa League.

The home side equalised just before half`time. Is a new smartphone on

your Christmas list? If so, police are warning thieves could be out to

spoil your festive season. In the last few years mobile phone thefts

have written that have risen dramatically. Police arrested 17

people in an operation to target mobile phone thieves. Let's go to

our correspondent in Manchester city centre. This mobile phone stores

stayed open late tonight for Christmas shoppers. So many of us

give and receive expensive mobile phones as gifts that this time of

year has become rich pickings for many thieves. Greater Manchester

police are trying to ensure those thieves cannot ruin our Christmas.

Over 200 police officers were involved in the raids this morning.

In total 17 people were arrested across greater Manchester with

police seizing 77 stolen mobile phones and ?60,000 in cash. They are

desirable items, Christmas is coming and people ask for them at Christmas

and the market is growing and access is growing. There have been almost

6000 thefts in the last year and almost 72% of thefts were mobile

phones. That has risen by 12% compared to three years ago. 83

stolen were smartphones. The need for operations like this is rising

as the value of mobile telephones increases. The technology involved

makes them more expensive and so more desirable for the thief.

Combining all of those people are being smarter in the way they

protect their telephones. If you do not, your phone could end up on the

other side of the world. 13 countries only have a pay`as`you`go

contracts, so these items are a lot more lucrative and valuable over

there. Today many shoppers in Manchester were taking the

opportunity to register their mobiles, increasing their chances of

recovering them if they are stolen. It is a lot to reorganise, all your

contacts and businesses on your phone as well. You are most likely

to have your phone stolen in a crowded place and that means busy

shopping centres, concerts, Christmas markets or on a Christmas

do in a crowded bar or restaurant. One officer said you would never

walk around town with ?400 sticking out of your back pocket, so why do

you do it with your mobile phone? The best advice is to keep it out of

sight. That is a fair point. We all do it.

It is when you leave them out on a table in a restaurant, just there,

tempting people. Every evening this week we have been

meeting our Christmas stars. Maybe you have been moved by some stories

of people who go out of their way to help us. We have got a special one

now. Christine Holt from Warrington is tonight was back Christmas`time.

12 years ago today, her husband lost his battle with cancer. Elaine

Dunkley has been along to the charity she set up in her husband's

memory. I can remember the first day... The John Holt charity in

Warrington provides friendship and support. 12 years ago Christine lost

her husband John, a loss which made her determined to help others. When

you are in that dire plays all you need is somebody to reach out a hand

and say, hang on to me and I will help you through that stage. Because

I had been a carer I knew where the gaps work and one of the gaps was

support after hours. Every week there are art classes, therapy

sessions and a chance to talk. The volunteers are wanted to say a big

thank you to Christine. When I found out she was getting it, I jumped up

and down. She is amazing, everything she does is to help people. She is

absolutely wonderful, you can go to her any time and talk to her. She is

here six days a week and she works really hard. She started it from

nothing. We are here to give you the Christmas Star award for being

wonderful and kind and caring and magnificent. Thank you. Words cannot

describe what this means. It has made it worthwhile, all the

struggles and all the fundraising that we do and the activities, it

makes it all worthwhile. Every night these stories are genuinely moving.

There are so many people who never normally get their moment of glory,

but quite right. Well done, Christine.

It has been very cloudy today and we have been sitting underneath this

blanket of cloud all day and it has brought plenty of rain on and off

all morning and the rain will continue for this evening. For the

next few days it will remain very unsettled. We have two frontal

systems bringing rain through. Another front brings in more rain on

Saturday night and into Sunday and more rain comes in on Sunday. But it

is not heavy rain, it is light, patchy rain in many cases. Tonight

is a very mild night and we will see temperatures in double figures. Rain

continues to come in from the west overnight and it will be heavy at

times. In terms of temperatures, ten or 11 is a real possibility

overnight. Not much different from this afternoon. Tomorrow we are in

for another mild day, but the rain will continue to pour in. We are

going to start off very gloomy once again. A dull, damp start and the

rain comes in in the afternoon. It will be a bit breezy as well. Not

much in the way of sunshine tomorrow. The temperatures are not

different from what we see overnight. Tomorrow night we will

lose the rain for a time and there will be clear skies. Temperatures

down to three or four in Cheshire. But for the weekend despite the rain

look at the temperatures, double figures and mild.

We were saying why is it the nearer we get to Christmas the milder it

gets? I know and it is not looking like it is going to be wild. A white

Christmas? Very unlikely. Just wait until February and we will have

snow. Probably in August!