19/11/2013 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Rob Smith.

And I'm Natalie Graham. Tonight's top stories: We're appalled ` a Kent

hospital admits its poor care endangered the life of a patient

with brain injuries. I told him he wouldn't come home if

they kept treating like `` kept treating him like this.

The bailiffs descend on Balcombe to evict the last anti`fracking

protestors from their camp. We're live in the village with the story.

5000 extra students, a ?500 million investment, 2000 jobs ` a huge

expansion at Sussex University is announced.

A solution to a sticky problem. How high`tech glue could solve the

pothole problem. The highlight of Christmas.

The tallest tree in Britain gets a festive make over.

Good evening. An NHS Trust in Kent says it's appalled by the poor care

provided to a brain damaged patient at its neuro`rehabilitation unit in

Sevenoaks. The trust responsible has admitted that Grant Clark was given

appalling treatment, only revealed when his partner set up the camera

footage by his bedside. The trust has now apologised to the

family. He didn't have his teeth brushed or

his armpits washed. The secret filming picked up

shocking standards of care. There is needed because of the risk

of infection. Although she uses an antiseptic wipe, when it gets

tricky, she borrows someone's pen and uses that. Grant's call Bill,

his means of getting help, was taken away. When he presses the bill on

this occasion, a health worker notices years wept with your written

but said he will have to wait. The buddies again five minutes later and

a senior member of staff comes in and takes away the call Bill. Within

ten minutes later, Grant presses a keypad to get attention. The same

woman returns and is not pleased. For now, Grant has been sitting in

his own your written for 15 minutes. Grant was not meant to have anything

by mouth. This is an experienced health care worker giving grant

water on five occasions. When grand starts to cough, he is told to keep

it quiet. I told him he wouldn't come home if

they kept treating him like this. Questioned by police, health care

worker said he regretted what he had done and realise he had done and

realises she endangers grant. No charges were brought.

The NHS Trust is upheld most of the charges made by the family. The Care

Quality Commission discovered that only one had undergone any

specialist training. Three nurses were suspended on one has since left

the unit. Brand has been moved to another

rehab unit which is providing him with good care and seems to be

making a real difference. The Care Quality Commission

inspected the unit and a separate report identified a number of

concerns, including the fact that, out of 47 staff, only one was

specially trained to care for brain`damaged patients.

There are units that do not provide proper coordinated care and yet that

is what they are cold and that is a sad reflection.

The trust has had a troubled few years. In 2011, the Care Quality

Commission demanded it improve its services. It was criticised again in

August after a man stabbed his patient wife. The most recent

inspection in September said that improvements had been made and there

were no areas of concern. Our Political Editor Louise Stewart

joins us now. Louise, this comes on the day that the Health Secretary

has said the NHS in England needs to undergo a "profound transformation"

to create an open, honest and learning culture.

This is all in response to the deaths at the Mid Staffordshire

trust. Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust is one of the

largest. It has faced a number of challenges, not least because of

increasing demand. There have been an increasing number of mental

health patients. In a statement, they said that they had introduced a

robust action plan to address concerns, it including increasing

nursing levels. The last remaining anti`fracking

protestors have been evicted from their camp in Balcombe in West

Sussex. The protestors set up home on the site in August when the

energy company Cuadrilla began carrying out test drilling for oil.

This morning bailiffs moved in to enforce an eviction order granted to

the County Council ` it argued that the camp posed a safety risk because

it was next to a busy, unlit road. Alex Beard reports.

You guys have screwed up. You should have given us notice. You are out of

order. My tent is here and the police

officers told me that they bailiffs are on their way. That was a rude

awakening. We have packed up and we will go back and get ready for the

next campaign. At its height, over 1000 protesters

were here. The council successfully applied for an eviction notice

saying that it was dangerous for protesters and drivers.

It is quite nice because the village can get back to its normal routine

but I think they did a good thing that people became aware of the

fracking. I wasn't so bothered by them but some people were.

I think it is a good idea for them to leave.

They said it was darker and dangerous. We take that into our own

matters. We are here to do something that we believe is more dangerous

than camping on the roadside. It took enforcement officers a matter

of minutes to dismantle the last of the tense.

This is the rust last of the tense being packed away. This is no longer

their home, after five months. Camping is now banned here and

protesters are considering where to take their campaign next.

Alex is in the village of Balcombe now. What's the reaction there to

today's events? Whether people agreed with the

protesters or not, there seems to be a sense of relief that the village

can go back to normal. Balcombe has been the centre of the fracking

debate. Cuadrilla have submitted a new planning application so whether

the piece will stay here depends on whether that application gets the

go`ahead or not. In a moment, a murder investigation in the Middle

East involving a Kent woman. The University of Sussex is to

undergo a massive expansion, taking on an extra 5000 students. A ?500

million plan has been unveiled today that includes new buildings for a

world class science programme, and creating more than 2000 jobs.

The University wishes to increase its impact nationally and

internationally and we need to do that by having more fantastic

students. We need to be bigger so that we can compete in terms of

research and be competitive internationally and it will help us

have a sustainable financial future and be more independent.

But not everyone's happy about the news. Let's cross to Brighton and

talk to our reporter Ellie Price. There has been a big push from

central government to develop maths and science technologies. They are a

big part of this university. The university says the expansion will

include 5000 students. The University points to some quite eye

watering re`search. It says it already creates 600 million pounds

for the UK economy and much of that is in the south`east. They say that

number will go up significantly with this expansion. There have been

concerns expressed by some people bowl.

There have. The Unite union says this will

change the character of the University and one said that it will

put strain on housing. Police are appealing for witnesses

to a fatal hit and run incident on the A21 at Robertsbridge. A

50`year`old man from St Leonards died after his push`bike collided

with a red Fiat Punto yesterday afternoon. The road was closed for

six hours. A 60`year`old woman from Battle has been arrested on

suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving ` and on suspicion

of drink`driving. The temperatures have begun to drop

` which means potholes will soon start appearing on our roads. In the

last financial year around 200,000 potholes were fixed across the south

east. Our councils paid out almost half a

million pounds in compensation to motorist, after 5200 people put in

claims, almost half of those claims were in Surrey.

So, this year, instead of carrying out patchwork repairs, Surrey County

Council is planning to resurface 10% of its roads using a new high`tech

glue. They say it will save time and money

and keep Surrey pothole free for at least ten years. Lucinda Adam has

tonight's special report. They're the bane of every driver's

life but potholes also cost our councils millions in road repairs

and compensation. This country lane in Horne, near Godstone, was full of

recurring potholes. Now it's being resurfaced but instead of ending up

in landfill, the old road that's dug up is being mixed with a

revolutionary high`tech glue to recycle and re`lay it to form a new

more durable base. This particular road has got

recycled, existing materials strengthened up. It means fewer

lorry movements, fewer materials need to be brought in and taken off

the site and we get a far better solution, quicker and cheaper and

with that saving we can plough that back in to delivering more Surrey

roads. By reusing material from this road

and three of its neighbouring roads here, the council estimates it's

saving more than half a million pounds on this three kilometre

stretch. The job can be done in four days instead of eight and because

the glued road can be driven on immediately, the lane can be opened

traffic each night. It's benefits like this these that are catching

the attention of other councils and industry experts.

It's a very good idea. There are lots of new innovative techniques

out there and the idea is to learn from best practice and spread these

ideas around so fixing them with glue may sound crazy but actually it

should work and hopefully hold together through the bad winter.

By planning repairs for 300 miles of the county's roads over five years `

instead of by annual budgets ` Surrey estimates it could save ?2

million each This isn't just about patching up

potholes but about resurfacing the road so it's more resistant and

guaranteed to last for ten years. So while this road should now be

able to endure this winter's cold, rain and frost, if new potholes do

appear, it's the contractors, not the taxpayer, who'll foot the bill.

An inquest into the death of a Kent woman whose partly burned body was

found in a desert in the Middle East has been opened and adjourned.

24`year`old Lauren Patterson from West Malling was working in Doha in

Qatar. Her body was found in a remote area. A postmortem failed to

find the cause of death. Several people have been arrested in

connection with her presumed murder. Our top story call on a Kent

Hospital has admitted its staff put a brain`damaged patient's life in

danger. His partner was so concerned that she setup secret cameras. The

Kent and Medway Social Care Partnership Trust says the footage

was appalling. Christmas is coming. High time to decorate the tallest

tree in the south`east. And we will be staying cold in the

south`east and it will turn wet tomorrow. I will have the full

forecast. Do contact us with your stories.

Three years ago he could only walk with a stick. Now Rob Starr from

Brighton has taken part in a cross`Channel swim. The 44`year`old

from Brighton suffers from Crohn's disease, which is an incurable,

potentially life`threatening, bowel condition that can leave people

feeling permanently weak and exhausted. It's thought as many as

115,000 people in the UK are living with Crohn's disease and is most

commonly diagnosed among young adults. Ian Palmer has been to meet

Rob Starr, whose inspirational story has now been recognised with an

award. Three years ago Rob Starr started

swimming in the sea. The affect on his health was astounding.

I get up in the morning and am in pain most mornings. After ATM, I am

in no pain after having my swim. The 44`year`old has Crohn's disease

and severe arthritis. Tired of the drugs he was taking to control the

pain `` he stopped taking them. 18 months later he set himself the

challenge of swimming the channel. Largely pain free he began writing a

blog which's been turned into a book. His publisher says Rob Starr

has a unique story to tell. He is so full of energy and spirit,

he really does take you on a journey and make you feel very much that

sense of what drove him on. It is very inspiring for that reason.

On Thursday Robb Starr will be given an award specially created for him

from the Primary Care Society. The modest father of three is

overwhelmed by the attention. We've all got a choice. We can get

up and carry on or we can let it beat us. My way is to get up and

keep going. You get a bit of pain, you keep going and take it on the

chin. The 44`year`old is fit enough to

have taken part in the Brighton Marathon and a cycle challenge in

the Alps. All profits from the book will go to his charity for young

people called the Starr Trust. It is the tallest tree in the UK,

standing over 120 feet tall, so putting the Christmas lights on is a

major operation. They have been decorating the tree since 1981.

First thing this morning, they started the annual task armed with

nerves of steel and a cherry picker. As some trees are losing their

leaves, others are coming to life again. Towering 36 metres high, work

got under way decorating the giant Christmas tree at first light.

We have 12 strings of lights here so it is working out which ones need to

go at the top and which at the bottom and also getting the spacing

right. We start at the top and work are way down so it is avoiding using

too much at the top and leaving a gap at the bottom.

This year they are using low`energy lights. Equivalent in length to six

football pitches. This is probably the only tree you get to claim and

not damage it. It is a partnership between us tree

climbers and the others there has been a decorated Christmas tree here

at Wake first ever since 1991. This 30 metre high Redwood was the

original but over the years it has proved so popular with visitors that

they moved onto this one, another six metres taller. In fact it is the

tallest living Christmas tree in the whole of the UK. It is quite

something when it is in full glow. Some say they can see it as they fly

into Gatwick. The official switch on his on the 1st of December.

It does look spectacular. It does but there were no this ability is in

gelling Gillingham were on the wrong end of an embarrassing FA Cup upset

last night after non`league Brackley Town dumped Peter Taylor's team out

of the competition. The Conference North side rode their luck at times

but held on for a 1`0 victory. Neil Bell joins us from Chatham. A bit

embarrassing for the new Gills manager.

He incurred the wrath of some supporters by claiming he was over

the moon with the players despite the result. When Peter Taylor was

last in charge of the Gills they beat two Premier League clubs on

their way to playing Chelsea in the Quarter Finals. That was always

going to be a tough act to follow. Just over 48 hours after their

morale`boosting win at Sheffield United, Gillingham found themselves

in unknown territory. For non`league opponents Brackley Town this was

their big chance to make it into the second round of the cup for the

first time in their history and for stand in keeper Alastair Worby it

was a golden opportunity to become a cup hero. Brackley took the lead

after just 20 minutes although Glen Walker's low shot took a slight but

crucial deflection. Shortly before half time the Gills thought they had

levelled things up only to find that Bradley Dack had been incorrectly

judged to have been offside. As the game continued it became

increasingly clear things weren't going Gillingham's way. Their

200`plus supporters began to fret. And the pressure grew on the

players. Try as they might the equaliser just didn't come, partly

due to the spring heeled Worby and, to be honest, the Gills failed to

make the most of some great opportunities and for the third time

in eight years Gillingham found themselves on the wrong end of an FA

Cup upset. In the cold light of day, the result looked no better.

To go from behind at the weekend to stealing that defeat in deepest

darkest Northamptonshire just sums up being a gelling ``

It was an unforgettable night for Brackley. For Gillingham, a missed

opportunity and a performance they will try to forget.

They have two home games in the space of four days. Things will

start to look brighter if they win those.

Yesterday we told you about a special ship and today she is back

home. She was used to rescue thousands of troops from the beaches

of Normandy in France. She has just been restored to the tune of 1.8

Lian pounds and is back in the peer. It was not as `` noticeably colder

today. We are going to be starting tomorrow

with a frost and we have some really strong and cold northerly winds. A

quiet day weather`wise for us today. But it was feeling bitterly cold. It

was feeling even cooler due to the winds. Tonight we have clearer skies

so temperatures will tumble. It will turn wet tomorrow morning so

temperatures will rise. It will drop below freezing tonight. A widespread

hard frost and also the possibility of icy patches as we start the day.

It turns very windy tomorrow morning and because of those strong winds,

that moves the brain away quickly `` moves the rain. As we go through the

afternoon, similar temperatures to today. Always a little bit milder

along the coast but those wins will be picking up. Tomorrow night,

because of the cloud and the wind, it will not be as chilly as tonight.

It will stay above freezing in most places. Even in more rural spots, it

will be a frosty start to the day on Thursday. Temperatures will be a

little bit milder but still a very cool picture. On Friday, still very

cold with those northerly winds and the risk of showers is increasingly

isolated. High pressure is building over the weekend so we will set

season sunshine but it will be bitterly cold.

Now, news of a very special event we're hosting here at BBC South East

Today this Friday. On Friday the 22nd of November, we

are celebrating 50 years of Dr Who with a special programme. We will be

showing a series of special guests. I do hope you can make time for it.

On Friday evening, I'll be hosting a special programme live from Herne

Bay. Tickets for the event have all been allocated but do join

us here on BBC One at 6:30pm. Let's have a quick recap of the

headlines. The Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said that the NHS

needs to undergo a profound transformation.

Hospitals must be open and honest about making mistakes.

A brain`damaged patient had his life put at risk by poor care he received

at NHS Sevenoaks. Goodbye.