21/05/2014 South East Today

at Six. Actions in Ukraine

patients put at risk and left unsafe, shocking findings of an

unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission at Maidstone

Hospital. We are at the hospital with the latest.

A major search and rescue operation is taking place in St Leonards amid

fears two people may have been swept down a drainage pipe out to sea.

A grieving mother takes legal action against Kent Police, unhappy with

the way they investigated his death in a hit and run.

I need to know how my son lost his life. A woman unwittingly send ``

spends hundreds on online games. And how Hollywood but busters have set

the popularity of archery soaring ``. Busters.

A damning report into standards of care

at a Kent hospital says patients have been put at risk and left

An unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission found

some patients at Maidstone Hospital were not asked for their consent

for surgery until they were on a trolley, waiting to go to theatre.

And children were put at risk because the child resuscitation team

did not routinely contain a paediatrician out of hours.

Simon Jones joins us live from Maidstone Hospital.

Yet another blow for NHS managers there, Simon.

Just days ago, a report into the death of five cancer patients

described members of the surgical team is dysfunctional. This

inspection takes a wider look at surgery and the care offered to

children and raises serious concerns. Hospital is told it must

take action. A hospital with inadequate numbers

of skilled staff to ensure patient safety, according to inspect this.

This man suffers from a rare swallowing disease and after two

years is still waiting. This has taken a lot of time. I have

been transferred. A case of not hearing things. It is only when we

chase things up we found out the surgeon I was supposed to see had

been off sick and I was not told that. The care could be better.

Another patient opted to go to another hospital for treatment, so

great was his concerns. My doctor suggested I go because of the

problems here. That seems drastic. It was quite drastic. Under the

circumstances, for what I am being treated for, it proved to be

correct. The Care Quality Commission found risks to health and safety not

managed appropriately. Some people were not asked for consent for

surgery until on a trolley waiting to go into theatre. Patients do not

always receive care from appropriately called fight stuff.

Is this a safe hospital? I would like to reassure you and the public

this is a very safe hospital with high`quality care and many aspects

of this report have demonstrated that. Many aspects showed it did

not. There were issues we know and we were given the opportunity to

improve on certain aspects. Some patients were quick to jump to

their defence. My experience has been wonderful. I would be pretty

stuck in a hole and they are really good. Absolutely 100% perfect, I

could not be treated better. The hospital will now face a further

unannounced inspection. Managers say they will take action,

but I think behind the scenes, they are furious at this report. They

challenge some of the findings and they say inspectors did not have

data to back up the most damning criticisms. They will now take

action, but overall, they would like a review of what has been found

here. They point out inspectors did say they received positive feedback

from the patients they spoke to. Now some breaking news, and a major

search`and`rescue operation is taking place in St Leonards, after

reports that two people have gone The emergency services were sent to

Cinque Ports Way just after 2pm, after a caller reported that they

were stuck in water in a culvert. Tonight, the coastguard and the Fire

and Rescue Service are continuing to search

the area with specialist teams. The Fire Service arrived within

minutes and carried out an assessment and we needed help to

clear that area. We did as much as we could to clear the chambers and

we are waiting for a police dive team to clear the areas we could not

reach, the pipe. This is an ongoing situation at the

moment, what we know about the incident?

Police were called at 2pm after a member of the public reported

hearing voices. That is essentially a large storm drain where the voices

came from a couple of miles down the road in St Leonards. A major

operation followed involving divers, the Coast Guard, ambulance and Fire

Service. Efforts were hampered at 4pm when the tide started to come

in. I have found nothing so far and they said they have not heard voices

again, but until they have searched the whole area, they have to assume

the worst in the night, the search continues.

Thank you, we will keep an eye on that story.

A mother who is unhappy with the way Kent Police investigated her

son's death is taking legal action against the force.

Marc Dunk was killed four years ago, hit by a lorry

A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death,

but Marc's mother has been gathering evidence in an attempt to prove her

Ever since her son was killed four years ago, Christine Elson has

Marc Dunk was killed when he investigation into his death.

We were not happy with the things we were hearing and over the last

three`year is, we have uncovered an enormous amount of information. It

categorically proves beyond reasonable doubt that the accident

did not happen the way the driver and the police portrayed. Marc Dunk

was killed cycling to work. The police investigation concluded he

rode across the path of a lorry but his mother believes this is not

true. In 2012, when she asked to see these reports, she was told a

crucial file had been lost and now having gathered more evidence, she

is in the process of watching a third formal complaint with the

Independent police Complaints Commission. Kent police said its own

review of the investigation found it has been carried out correctly. When

the family appealed to those findings, no fault was found with

the investigation. The problem with cases like this is that is no

recourse for all the tips when they have gone through the processes ``

for relatives. And if they are still not satisfied, there is nowhere else

to go to. What I can recommend they do is contact the cyclists defend

fund, a charity supporting legal challenges involving challenges and

is looking for more cases. I have 40 questions I would like answered by

Kent Police and they do not want to answer them. I need these answers, I

need closures `` closure. Until I get these anthers, I do not have it.

Celebrating Tunbridge Wells? Assembly Halls anniversary.

Friends and colleagues of a Kent youth worker who drowned in Jamaica

while saving his young son have spoken on camera for the first time

to pay tribute to an " honest and dedicated" professional.

49`year`old Tony Wilkinson, from Cranbrook,

was on holiday in Calabash Bay when he was caught in a strong current,

Claudia Sermbezis has our exclusive report.

Witnesses say Tony and his partner were walking through a surf with

their young sons when a wave took their young sons when a wave took

one of the children. Tony went after him and he passed him to his

partner. Fishermen rushed to help and the boy survived, his Father did

not. He said, what happened to the baby? They said the baby was all

right. He just went away like that. It was a very difficult tide.

Everybody tried their best. Tony Wilkinson was a much loved

youth worker. The charity he worked at support vulnerable inner`city

children. He was a partner of an award`winning Guardian journalist.

There is no clocking off, no turning your phone off because you are

tired. If somebody needs you, they need you, and he was dedicated. For

all those young people, for every time we told one, another three

would phone me saying, tell me it is not true, crying.

There was no hidden agenda. He was not saying something to make you

feel able certain way. He would say something if he meant it. A lot of

kids looked up to that, they could respect that and appreciate his

honesty. It is thought the family moved to a

house near Cranbrook and they went on holiday to Jamaica, a place Tony

was very familiar with and had many friends.

A book of condolence has been opened for Tony Wilkinson, seen here with

his daughter. His funeral will be held next month.

What can you tell us about the investigation?

A postmortem was carried out a couple of days ago and we are still

waiting for the results. They should come out later today. On the beach

where it happened, people are finding it difficult to deal with

this. Many of them knew Tony personally or were involved in the

rescue. The family are finding it most difficult. I spoke to a member

is short time ago and they said the one thing which they want is for

Tony to be remembered as a hero, who sacrificed his own life for that of

his child's. The rail company South Eastern paid

out more than ?1.5 million in compensation to passengers

affected by landslips between January and March.

Stretches of the line between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells

had to be closed after landslips caused by the

wettest winter weather on record. The compensation figure is ten times

the amount paid out for the same period last year.

Campaigners fighting to save Manston Airport have held

a march today to urge their local authority to push through the

Its owners say ongoing financial losses could not be sustained.

Thanet District Council says it will commission a report to find out

whether a Compulsory Purchase Order would be viable.

A couple who allowed their four dogs to suffer eye

infections and extreme fur loss through mange have been banned from

Tony and Tracey Ford, from Margate, admitted offences under the

The RSPCA say it was "an appalling case of prolonged neglect."

Counter`terrorism police who have been searching four properties

in the Brighton area, following the death

of a local teenager in Syria, say they have have seized material that

Officers from the South East Counter Terrorism Unit raided the home

of 18`year`old Abdullah Deghayes in Saltdean yesterday, and searches

Our home affairs reporter, Rebecca Williams,

Rebecca, Abdullah Deghayes was killed fighting for a group that

That is right, and police say the searchers have finished but the one

at Salt Dean has been ongoing. They have found material to be sent off

for examination that could be relevant, but no arrests have been

made. One of the houses raided was that of Abdullah Deghayes, who died

fighting in Syria. His Father has previously said two of his other

sons, one who is 16, it still in the country. Police say the searches are

necessary to safeguard communities but they insist it is not in

response to an immediate threat. The family of a severely disabled

woman from Eastbourne are fighting to get back hundreds

of pounds that she unwittingly spent Anna McNaughton thought she had made

a one`off payment while playing the popular Candy Crush Saga game,

but then racked up further bills Her parents claim vulnerable

people are losing money they can't afford because computer game

companies fail to make it clear The polls open tomorrow

across the South East for European Anna McNaughton is paraplegic but

this is a keyboard that helps her to spell out her thoughts and to play

computer games. She told me about them. It is fun and it is quite

predict. One of her favourite games was Candy Crush, it is free to play

at becomes more interesting when Gold bars can be bought. She entered

her bank data yields thinking it was a one off payment and did not

realise she would be paying more clicking on more vast `` details.

Within one month, the bill was over ?400.

What effect did it have on you? It was quite a shock to me because I

did not know how much money I was spending.

This is what players see when they decide to make more purchases. The

company behind the game describes it as transparent. Anna's mothers says

it is not transparent enough and says she has asked for a refund

twice. `` mother. They have got their mother, they do not care about

the customers. You could say they are a business and not a charity and

they do not own people a duty of care. To a degree, I agree, but what

they are doing is not moral because they are playing on the lives of the

young and vulnerable. We are very confident the information is clear

and we think this is a joint responsibility to an industry, doing

its part to comply with existing legislation of protection, and on

the part of consumers. What would your message beat the company that

produces these? Children can play and they do not

know what they cost. Industry point out passwords can be set. Anna said

she is still too upset to play a game. `` again.

A damning report into standards of care

at a Kent hospital says patients have been put at risk and left

An unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission found

some patients at Maidstone Hospital were not asked for their consent

for surgery until they were on a trolley, waiting to go to theatre.

How Hollywood brought archery back into fashion.

And the South East youngsters taking aim.

Heavy thundery rain into the night, joining later for the details.

The polls open tomorrow across the South East for European

Elections to decide which ten MEPs will represent us in Brussels.

The campaign has been dominated by the issue of immigration and whether

Britain should remain in the European Union at all, or pull out.

But, of course, European legislation affects many

other aspects of our lives and our political editor Louise Stewart

has been speaking to businesses in Kent and Sussex to find out what

The European Parliament in Brussels may seem distant from the South East

of England, but the decisions taken here have a huge impact at home.

A crop of Kent strawberries may epitomise British summertime but

farmers here have to deal with farmers here have to deal with

bureaucracy from Brussels. Alistair believes being part of the EU has

advantages. It has been beneficial because it

has opened us up to a much larger working market. And it is a two Way

St. Young people can work in Greece and is pain, Portugal, France, and a

lot of central Europeans can work here `` Spain.

On the Sussex coast, the impact of the EU is felt. Fishermen in

Hastings believe Brussels quotas have affected the South East badly.

92% of the fleet is under ten metres but we have not got any rights. They

are exempt from the quota regulation until 2006, it was the worst thing

we did going into Europe because it took our rights away.

This travel company runs trips in the UK and Europe. This man says EU

regulations affect how he operates but it is not all negative.

The vehicle servicing and so on, these things are controlled by

European regulation now and while most people in this industry and

similar industries are aware they are set by European regulation might

complain about it, we accept it is for a good purpose.

So why does your vote count? The decisions taken by the South

eased's ten Euro MPs here decide everything from the amount of money

we spend to use our mobile phone to the hours we work and how food is

labelled. As well as the European elections,

their local council elections for voters tomorrow in six local

authorities. You can find the details on the website.

The hunger games is the latest series to make practice with eight

oh and arrow cool `` The Hunger Games. And the sport is finding a

younger and cooler target audience. `` ape bow and arrow. Thank you for

your consideration. Our ancestors did it

and now our film stars have helped to revive it, so it should come

as no great surprise that archery, particularly here in the

South East, is back with a bang. It has driven archery into the

forefront of the imagination of children. Children love something

different and something traditional and they are taught about the

history of the region, so archery has a big factor to play. It has

certainly captured their imagination.

A number of schools in Kent and Sussex have adopted

the American NASP program which has transformed archery's popularity

in the USA, with millions taking up the sport in the last decade.

The number one theme is safety, safety throughout, and a lot of fun,

and that is what we do here. Bos can cost less than ?100 and targets and

arrows or easily available and progress can be rapid. `` bows.

After a bit of practice, you get better and better. When you get up

to the shooting line, the competitive comes out of you and you

want to get better than everyone else. It is not difficult to see why

this sport is so popular and when you hit the target, it can become

pretty addictive. He was brave standing there!

The Rolling Stones, Tony Hancock and Mickey Rooney are just a few

of the stars who have topped the bill there over the years.

And this week, the Assembly Hall Theatre, in Tunbridge Wells

The Art Deco building started life as a dance hall, but over the years,

it has doubled up as a TV studio and a sorting hall for wartime evacuees.

Chrissie, tonight, they are preparing to count our votes.

Yes, it is remarkable, the theatre has been part of this community for

almost 75 years. 75 years old on Saturday. It has been a dance hall,

theatre, and it has looked after evacuated children from London. It

is incredible that after nearly 75 years, it is still going strong.

The Assembly Hall Theatre has played host to some of the biggest shows

and brightest stars since it opened in May 1939. A prime example of Art

Deco architecture and originally built as an entertainment centre for

Tunbridge Wells. This actor and resident is a fan.

I know this theatre extremely well, I have worked here in number of

times and I have seen shows regularly. So it is a fantastic

asset for any town to have a theatre. You can see the difference

in towns that have a theatre and those that do not.

In the out of the Second World War, London children were evacuated here

and waited to be chosen by host families. John and his sisters were

among them. You look at the Assembly Hall Theatre and it takes me back to

the children sat in the bottom right`hand corner, waiting to be

picked. It is a community venue, election

can't happen here and for many years, the theatre housed a hidden

BBC studio. BBC journalists used to go in through a side door in the

dead of night and they would record pieces here and send them back to

Alexander Palace for transmission. 75 years of history and despite

being close to the London West End, it is a thriving advert for regional

theatre. It looks different to the night, the

seats have been pushed back for the voting tomorrow. It has entertained

many audiences over 75 years. They have laughed, cried and sang, and it

is incredible as we approach this milestone, it has no chance of

stopping any time soon. You may need to wear coats

tomorrow, thunderstorms! The weather warnings that!

Dashboard back. Tomorrow, we will see heavy showers

because of this area of low pressure. Winds along the South

coast. There was brightness first thing through the afternoon and we

saw more cloud cover, and now rain is coming from the self.

Temperatures mile `` mild for the time of year and now it is feeling

unpleasant. Ten, 15 mph winds. They will pick up tonight. It will clear

fairly swiftly. A drier story tomorrow, but plenty of cloud cover.

Temperatures in double figures, 11, 12 degrees. A dry start for tomorrow

but it is not going to stay that way. That weather warning followed

for tomorrow for mid`morning. Heavy, thundery downpours. Temperatures

rising in sunshine. 18, 19 degrees. Wind is still around 15, 20 mph. But

it will feel much cooler. `` the winds. Showers should ease in the

evening. Temperatures again in double figures. Lows of around 11,

12 degrees. Friday is slightly drier with some sunshine. Temperatures up

of a shower. Towards the weekend, it of a shower. Towards the weekend, it

will feel warm. Plenty of showers, particularly for Saturday. Sunday is

slightly drier. We should stay mostly dry on Monday. This low

pressure were clear on Saturday. Sunday is drier and Monday looks to

be dry, bright and warm. Thank you.

That is it from us for now, good evening.

that is to find that one item that's going to change their life.

Flames are beautiful. Made nice money, that did. Nice money.

?200,000? HE LAUGHS

I mean, nobody, really and truly, can sell rubbish like I can.