:00:12. > :00:15.Renewed concerns about the future of community hospitals amid pl`ns to
:00:16. > :00:23.Critics have warned it'll mdan the closure of more beds across Devon.
:00:24. > :00:25.Tonight we'll look at the implications for hospitals `nd
:00:26. > :00:34.Devon College says it's cancelling a coach company's contract, bdcause of
:00:35. > :00:42.We've got a lot of very concerned parents. I think they, as wdll as
:00:43. > :00:45.myself and the governors, would want Devon to make a courageous decision
:00:46. > :00:50.to sever ties with Carmel, rather than a financially expedient one.
:00:51. > :00:53.And the cuts prove profitable ` Flybe is back in the black for the
:00:54. > :01:02.There are fears tonight for the future of Devon's community
:01:03. > :01:06.hospitals. There are 28 across the county, 18 of them also havd minor
:01:07. > :01:10.injuries units. Inpatient bdds will close at many and injury unhts at
:01:11. > :01:13.some. It's part of a move towards delivering more care at homd for the
:01:14. > :01:16.region's growing elderly population. And it's linked to the black hole in
:01:17. > :01:18.NHS finances. Critics say it's short`sighted. Our Health
:01:19. > :01:25.Correspondent Sally Mountjox has this exclusive report.
:01:26. > :01:27.Now, come along, it's time xou were asleep now...
:01:28. > :01:31.For generations, cottage hospitals with inpatient beds have bedn a
:01:32. > :01:35.cornerstone of community life, especially in rural areas. But in
:01:36. > :01:41.Devon, that's changing. Unddr a radical shakeup, a number of them,
:01:42. > :01:45.and we do not know yet which, will lose their beds. At Morton Hampstead
:01:46. > :01:47.and Budleigh Salterton, the beds have already closed. A controversial
:01:48. > :01:50.trial to assess the effectiveness of closing beds at Torrington Hospital
:01:51. > :01:53.is under way. County council watchdogs are now being askdd to
:01:54. > :01:57.endorse the health changes planned for Devon.
:01:58. > :02:04.There will be significant bdd losses across Devon and that, to md, is a
:02:05. > :02:11.worrying prospect. The RD is filled to capacity most, if not all
:02:12. > :02:14.of the time. We need communhty hospitals to take some of that
:02:15. > :02:22.Morton Hampstead Hospital no longer has inpatients, but will now be a
:02:23. > :02:24.health and well`being hub, with more clinics and community services.
:02:25. > :02:31.Locals have been persuaded. We have lost the inpatient beds and
:02:32. > :02:36.have not gained much yet, btt we're confident that the emerging plans
:02:37. > :02:40.will allow us to gain services for people who might otherwise have to
:02:41. > :02:49.go further afield. A growing population, and an ageing
:02:50. > :02:53.one with complex health needs, combined with a large, black hole in
:02:54. > :02:55.NHS finances, mean change is inevitable. The groups that
:02:56. > :02:58.commission healthcare in Devon say more of it should be carried out at
:02:59. > :03:03.home. But some services, including hospital beds and minor injtries
:03:04. > :03:06.units, will be lost. Retired surgeon, David Halpin, fought
:03:07. > :03:12.earlier plans to end inpatidnt care at Ashburton and Buckfastlehgh
:03:13. > :03:17.Hospital. He says losing colmunity beds means more pressure on acute
:03:18. > :03:22.hospitals. I'm all for good care in thd home,
:03:23. > :03:26.but community hospitals is part and parcel of that, as it is part and
:03:27. > :03:29.parcel of the function of a district general hospital. Without the
:03:30. > :03:32.community hospital, district general hospitals will be hobbled. They will
:03:33. > :03:34.not be able to discharge patients when appropriate for intermddiate
:03:35. > :03:42.care in cottage hospitals. The doctors planning health service
:03:43. > :03:44.changes want patients' help to make hard choices.
:03:45. > :03:51.If you only have so much hard resources, then decisions h`ve to be
:03:52. > :03:54.made as to whether you put resources into this area or a different one.
:03:55. > :03:57.It is about involving patients and stakeholder groups to help ts as a
:03:58. > :04:04.Mrs Marshall, how are you, dear tonight?
:04:05. > :04:10.announced for several weeks. But GPs in Devon have warned they are
:04:11. > :04:12.already overstretched and c`nnot look after patients who previously
:04:13. > :04:15.had been in hospital without the extra resources needed to c`re for
:04:16. > :04:24.We'd like your views on that story. There are already comments on our
:04:25. > :04:34.Facebook page and Twitter. Xou can also email spotlight@bbc.co.uk.
:04:35. > :04:37.Spotlight can reveal tonight that the head of one of the region's
:04:38. > :04:42.academies has cancelled his contract with a coach company, which has lost
:04:43. > :04:45.its licence over woeful safdty failures. The Principal of South
:04:46. > :04:48.Dartmoor Community College said he'd taken the decision in the interests
:04:49. > :04:52.of student safety. Devon Cotnty Council also admitted today that it
:04:53. > :04:55.knew weeks ago that Carmel Coaches, which provides many of its school
:04:56. > :05:05.services, was being investigated. Spotlight's John Danks reports.
:05:06. > :05:13.Hold the outside of work in Unity College, and many of the pupils here
:05:14. > :05:16.rely on coaches to make the journey to and from school. Carmel Coaches
:05:17. > :05:20.still operates some of thosd services under contract to Devon
:05:21. > :05:25.County Council. But contracts to run evening trips and day trips have now
:05:26. > :05:32.been cancelled following safety concerns.
:05:33. > :05:34.I think the parents as well as myself and the governors wotld want
:05:35. > :05:39.them to make a courageous ddcision to sever ties with Carmel R`ther
:05:40. > :05:43.than perhaps a financially dxpedient one. I am aware that Devon `re
:05:44. > :05:48.sending out inspectors on a regular basis to check these coaches are
:05:49. > :05:52.safe. But I do not think th`t is dispelling our concerns.
:05:53. > :05:58.Devon County Council admittdd it had known Carmel coaches was under
:05:59. > :06:03.investigation. Nobody was available for interview from the council but a
:06:04. > :06:12.local authority made this statement. We're looking at ways in whhch, if
:06:13. > :06:18.need be, we can get alternative transport for pupils to get to
:06:19. > :06:27.school. But, at the moment, we are examining everything and evdry bus
:06:28. > :06:30.to ensure they are safe. At the school, questions relain as
:06:31. > :06:33.to why no contingency plans were put in place.
:06:34. > :06:40.I am surprised there has bedn no contingency. We will obviously work
:06:41. > :06:45.with Devon to try to sort ott this mess.
:06:46. > :06:49.Carmel Coaches runs more th`n 3 schools services and claims it has
:06:50. > :06:54.been harshly treated and will appeal the decision to revoke its licence.
:06:55. > :06:57.John Danks reporting. Well we asked Devon County Council for an
:06:58. > :07:00.interview but they declined. Earlier I spoke to the Exeter MP Ben
:07:01. > :07:03.Bradshaw. I asked him what `ction he thought the council should be taking
:07:04. > :07:14.I have real concerns about this case. The traffic commissioner said
:07:15. > :07:21.in her report that these concerns went back to 2011, more than years
:07:22. > :07:25.ago. Since then there have been two investigations and both of those
:07:26. > :07:27.phoned the company to be unsatisfactory and warning letters
:07:28. > :07:34.were issued. It is inconceivable that Devon County Council dhd not
:07:35. > :07:37.know of those concerns. If they did not know, they should have known. If
:07:38. > :07:41.they get no, you should havd acted sooner.
:07:42. > :07:46.They say they are now carryhng out spot checks on vehicles. Ard you
:07:47. > :07:51.satisfied? No. They need to do spot chdcks
:07:52. > :07:54.that is important, but what have they been doing for the last three
:07:55. > :07:58.years or more since these concerns were first raised you Matt we knew
:07:59. > :08:04.there was going to be a public enquiry at the beginning of this
:08:05. > :08:07.year. These are rare and thhs is an indication that the traffic
:08:08. > :08:17.Commissioner had serious concerns. What contingency plans were the
:08:18. > :08:21.council taking? Is it your view that the cotncil
:08:22. > :08:26.should stop using Carmel Co`ches for school transport immediatelx?
:08:27. > :08:30.If you read this report, it is really serious. It is a verx damning
:08:31. > :08:36.report. The language used is extremely strong. Found to be
:08:37. > :08:42.unsafe, vehicles to be taken off the road, a woeful record. This company
:08:43. > :08:46.were given a lot of help and they still failed so Devon Countx Council
:08:47. > :08:50.need to move quickly to find an alternative provider. I unddrstand
:08:51. > :08:55.individual schools are alre`dy doing this.
:08:56. > :09:14.Some dark Lord Unity Collegd has decided not to use Carmel Coaches.
:09:15. > :09:20.`` South Dartmoor Community College. It is a public document and Devon
:09:21. > :09:24.needs to take swift action to reassure the public that thdy put
:09:25. > :09:25.the safety of our children first before commercial consideration
:09:26. > :09:30.Thank you. The Exeter`based airline Flxbe, has
:09:31. > :09:34.announced its first pre`tax profit in four years. But it's comd at a
:09:35. > :09:37.cost to staff and passengers. 1 00 jobs have gone nationwide at the
:09:38. > :09:40.airline in the last 18 months. A number of routes including services
:09:41. > :09:43.from Exeter to Barcelona and Nice have been axed. Cuts on routes to
:09:44. > :09:46.Palma, Malaga, Faro and Alicante will come later this year.
:09:47. > :09:48.Spotlight's business correspondent Neil Gallacher has been following
:09:49. > :09:51.the story. Police and the hdalth and safety executive are investhgating
:09:52. > :10:11.the death of a crew member on board It has been a striking turn`round.
:10:12. > :10:14.The new boss of Flybe has only been in the post for less than a year and
:10:15. > :10:18.is talking today about the rebirth of the airline.
:10:19. > :10:25.We are out of the blocks. A long way to go still, and it is very
:10:26. > :10:30.encouraging in terms of where we are at now. I would like to place on
:10:31. > :10:37.record my thanks to all our employees, pilots, cabin crdw,
:10:38. > :10:42.engineers, everyone on the field as well as at head office in Exeter for
:10:43. > :10:48.a phenomenal commitment and support. He has had a tough time. He had to
:10:49. > :10:52.cut jobs, to drop a number of aeroplanes from the fleet. We had
:10:53. > :10:57.some e`mails recently from viewers complaining about that. In
:10:58. > :11:04.particular, the loss of somd of the routes to the Mediterranean. The
:11:05. > :11:12.problem will be that Flybe have decided to cut the Exeter Alicante
:11:13. > :11:20.route. I believe other sunshine destinations will be removed. Going
:11:21. > :11:24.to Gatwick, you're going aw`y and excited. But when you come home you
:11:25. > :11:29.just want to get home as fast as you can and this is the beauty of Exeter
:11:30. > :11:35.Airport. One economist said that the
:11:36. > :11:37.take`home message from all of this is that this crucial business
:11:38. > :11:44.finally can be said to have a future.
:11:45. > :11:47.The story for me is that Flxbe Sarah Lee important private sector
:11:48. > :11:56.employer. That means higher wages, higher salaries, spent in the local
:11:57. > :12:04.economy. Return to profit is really important.
:12:05. > :12:09.Flybe have been through a tough time but it is now getting over ht.
:12:10. > :12:13.Police have been carrying ott patrols in Plymouth after a man
:12:14. > :12:18.tried to grab a 13`year`old girl. The attack happened between Berry
:12:19. > :12:21.Head Gardens and Southwell Road in Crownhill at 4pm on Monday. The man
:12:22. > :12:24.is described as white, in hhs 5 s, around 5ft 8ins tall, very slim
:12:25. > :12:46.The prospect of more money for the South West's schools edged closer
:12:47. > :12:49.today, but the Schools Minister has made it clear the funding sxstem
:12:50. > :12:52.won't now be overhauled unthl after next year's General Election.
:12:53. > :13:02.Spotlight's Political Editor Martyn Oates reports now from Westlinster.
:13:03. > :13:09.Under the present school funding system, rural areas like Cornwall,
:13:10. > :13:12.Devon and Dorset fared badlx compared to other locations across
:13:13. > :13:16.the country, falling well bdlow the average in terms of the mondy they
:13:17. > :13:22.receive. The Government has acknowledged this is unfair but all
:13:23. > :13:25.it has done so far is to offer 350 million, not a huge sum of loney in
:13:26. > :13:30.the great scheme of things, next year to be divided out amongst the
:13:31. > :13:34.traditional losers, like Devon and Cornwall. But the schools mhnister
:13:35. > :13:39.today suggest that what he thought was a realistic timetable for
:13:40. > :13:42.overhauling the funding forlula There is no reason why we c`nnot
:13:43. > :13:49.take that decision early in the next Parliament. Once we have set out the
:13:50. > :13:52.spending plans, we can move to that national funding formula ovdr a
:13:53. > :13:58.period of years. Without deleting precisely what the plan would be, I
:13:59. > :14:02.cannot see how many years it would take.
:14:03. > :14:13.He said dealing with this sooner would fix the problem of having to
:14:14. > :14:16.create extra money. There's a Liberal Democrat minister and things
:14:17. > :14:19.this pledge will appear on the Liberal Democrat manifesto but he
:14:20. > :14:22.acknowledged it depends on which party or parties are running the
:14:23. > :14:25.country after next May. Campaigners fighting the
:14:26. > :14:27.privatisation of support services at Cornwall's acute hospitals have
:14:28. > :14:30.concerns about the proposed company's record on pay. Thd BBC has
:14:31. > :14:33.learned that MITIE is the preferred bidder to provide catering, cleaning
:14:34. > :14:35.and portering services. Hospital managers say they can't comlent for
:14:36. > :14:38.commercial reasons, but say their priority is high quality services
:14:39. > :14:55.for patients. Eleanor Parkinson Cleaning, catering, securitx and
:14:56. > :14:59.portering are carried out bx NHS staff. But because seven nedds to
:15:00. > :15:04.make savings of ?40 million. It believes privatisation will save
:15:05. > :15:13.money. Today, one trust member who resigned over the privatisation
:15:14. > :15:23.plans, told the BBC that thdir preferred company is mighty. Anyone
:15:24. > :15:40.can look online and see Mickey employment. `` temp two.
:15:41. > :15:42.It is not possible to make the savings that this company s`y they
:15:43. > :15:56.can make without getting rid of huge numbers of staff. We think ht will
:15:57. > :16:01.be particularly bad news. Ehther staff numbers will be diminhshed or
:16:02. > :16:04.standards will fall. Last year, cleaners at First Great
:16:05. > :16:14.Western went on strike over a dispute with pain conditions with
:16:15. > :16:19.MITIE. Privatisation was brought in in the 1980s and it has been
:16:20. > :16:22.estimated that 40% of hospitals use private companies. Today, the trust
:16:23. > :16:30.said they were involved in professional procurement, btt they
:16:31. > :16:33.said they had a preferred bhdder and hoped to see more about it shortly.
:16:34. > :16:37.They said their priority was to ensure high`quality services for
:16:38. > :16:38.patients and an effective use of public money.
:16:39. > :16:41.People living in a seaside village are furious they weren't told about
:16:42. > :16:44.a plan to stop maintaining coastal defences. Hallsands is on Ddvon s
:16:45. > :16:47.South Coast ` between Start Point and Torcross. Part of the vhllage
:16:48. > :16:49.was washed away a hundred ydars ago, now residents are accusing
:16:50. > :16:52.authorities of a "second betrayal" as it emerged the official policy
:16:53. > :16:55.was 'no active intervention' when their defences were destroydd in the
:16:56. > :17:17.The ruins and the ghosts of 191 are never far away. When storms attacked
:17:18. > :17:20.the village's defences, thex were shocked to discover they wotld not
:17:21. > :17:26.be repaired. When they attended eight parish
:17:27. > :17:29.meeting after losing sea defences, we were informed the was a
:17:30. > :17:40.nonintervention policy. We were shocked to find this policy in
:17:41. > :17:45.place. It looks like I was going to be washed out of business. Ht is a
:17:46. > :17:50.joke. We are not going to lose this place whatever happens. We will
:17:51. > :17:53.fight them all the way. The shoreline management pl`n sets
:17:54. > :18:04.out a policy for every bit of our coast. Whether to do nothing or hold
:18:05. > :18:08.the line. Villagers are furhous We were not asked about this and do not
:18:09. > :18:15.agree with what it says abott our village. It has been frustr`ting.
:18:16. > :18:20.The authorities have refused to take any responsibility for this
:18:21. > :18:26.location. They hide behind ` plan that nobody knew even existdd.
:18:27. > :18:45.The South Devon and Dorset coastal authorities group told Spotlight:
:18:46. > :19:06.Villagers are still not happy. They said their campaign will continue.
:19:07. > :19:09.Kay on Facebook says that hd has gone out of the medical profession.
:19:10. > :19:16.Another comment is that nobody in Government cares. On Twitter, one
:19:17. > :19:21.comments: The cuts are not good for patients, just care homes. Thank you
:19:22. > :19:25.for your comments. One of the key players in Somerset's
:19:26. > :19:28.bid to win cricket's County Championship for the first time this
:19:29. > :19:30.year is a Devonian. Lewis Gregory, from Plympton, has recorded
:19:31. > :19:32.career`best scores as Somerset occupy the top spot in Division One.
:19:33. > :19:47.Spotlight's Dave Gibbins reports. Lewis Gregory is a product of
:19:48. > :19:53.Plimpton, in the Devon leagte. He had a hamstring problem thrde weeks
:19:54. > :19:59.ago, but nearing a recovery, the 22`year`old is itching to c`rry on.
:20:00. > :20:06.With the amount of talent wd have in the dressing room, it is hard to
:20:07. > :20:13.perform to order but when I get the opportunity I just keep chipping
:20:14. > :20:17.away and improving. Hopefully I will work my way up the order.
:20:18. > :20:24.He keeps his feet firmly on the ground, despite his best se`son to
:20:25. > :20:28.date. He does not forget his roots, acknowledging the strength of
:20:29. > :20:30.cricket in Devon and Cornwall. In particular, the club really started
:20:31. > :20:35.as a nine`year`old. My mum and dad took me to the local
:20:36. > :20:43.club in Plimpton and it went from there. I was picked up on the
:20:44. > :20:47.Somerset Academy at 14. Devon have a terrific youth setup at the moment.
:20:48. > :20:53.If you lads come through thd system. Including myself. There is ` great
:20:54. > :20:58.setup and pathway for young cricketers to move from the Devon
:20:59. > :21:02.system to the professional game Somerset is the only county gets to
:21:03. > :21:06.lose in division one this stmmer. They have just beaten Sussex at
:21:07. > :21:13.Thompson to prove they are serious title contenders. As they strive for
:21:14. > :21:16.the elusive County Championship town blog title, who's to say thdy might
:21:17. > :21:23.not? Some of the world's top yachtsmen
:21:24. > :21:26.and women sailed into Plymotth this afternoon in what's considered the
:21:27. > :21:28.world championships for single`handed sailors. It's the end
:21:29. > :21:31.of the first leg of the 45th Le Solitaire du Figaro race. Lhve now
:21:32. > :21:49.to Sutton Harbour and Spotlhght s As you can see, all the docs are now
:21:50. > :21:56.back in. What is exciting is that in 45 races, this is the first time
:21:57. > :22:06.that it has ever come to Plxmouth. `` all the yachts. This Frenchman
:22:07. > :22:14.was the first to cross the line at Plymouth just before 3pm today. The
:22:15. > :22:18.skipper left France at midd`y on Sunday. This is the first stage in
:22:19. > :22:21.the race which is won by thd skipper who completes all four legs in the
:22:22. > :22:30.shortest combined time. The first British sailor home was Plylouth
:22:31. > :22:42.University student, Sam Madsen. How do you feel? Just really happy.
:22:43. > :22:50.Have learned a lot in this race Yes. You keep learning the whole
:22:51. > :22:57.time. Still plenty of mistakes. So, I have three more attempts.
:22:58. > :23:00.He is now in a respectable 02th position in what is one of the most
:23:01. > :23:06.arduous races in the Europe`n sailing calendar. Joining md now is
:23:07. > :23:19.another British sailor. He hs from Dartmouth. How difficult was it
:23:20. > :23:22.Really tough. We had three nights at sea and very little sleep. Perhaps
:23:23. > :23:26.three hours accumulative sldep over the three nights. It is gre`t to
:23:27. > :23:32.arrive here at Plymouth with this amazing weather. And with the crowds
:23:33. > :23:38.that saw in, it is fantastic. What is different about this race?
:23:39. > :23:43.The boats racing are normally served by four or five people but we raised
:23:44. > :23:47.them by ourselves and the competition is very high. Wd are
:23:48. > :23:50.racing against the world's best The fact that we come into Plymouth for
:23:51. > :23:57.the first time is absolutelx amazing. There are restaurants over
:23:58. > :24:03.there and to be able to comd here and be so close to home is `mazing.
:24:04. > :24:12.There are eight boats with British skippers. It is a very French
:24:13. > :24:18.dominated race. It is amazing to be part of the British group.
:24:19. > :24:32.Good luck for the next leg. That starts on Saturday from herd at 6pm.
:24:33. > :24:36.You can get up and see it. Then it goes on to Ireland and Roscoff.
:24:37. > :24:54.It has been lovely. The clotd has been building up through thd day. We
:24:55. > :24:59.have just about avoided the showers. been building up through thd day. We
:25:00. > :25:06.have just about avoided the showers. We may see some early mist. A top
:25:07. > :25:22.temperature of 22 degrees. Hf you are enjoying the fine weathdr, the
:25:23. > :25:27.pollen is high. Most of the cloud is to the north of us now. Gradually,
:25:28. > :25:33.this high pressure will dig its heels in and become slow`moving It
:25:34. > :25:46.is still with us as we move into the middle of the day on Thursd`y. And
:25:47. > :25:51.still on Friday. Earlier today, the cloud was bubbling up. The coast has
:25:52. > :25:57.had the best of the sunshind. This was earlier today at Exeter keys.
:25:58. > :26:03.Fine weather there. Many of us have been praying for a couple of dry
:26:04. > :26:13.days to try to try things ott. At last, we have a chance to gdt out
:26:14. > :26:21.and enjoy the fine weather. The animals also enjoying this weather.
:26:22. > :26:27.Overnight, the client will disappear and we will have a cold night,
:26:28. > :26:36.temperatures down to 6 degrdes. Most mist and fog will have gone by the
:26:37. > :26:42.time we are up in the morning. A nice day tomorrow. Lots of sunshine.
:26:43. > :26:50.Some fear rather cloud bubbling up. The best temperatures will be in
:26:51. > :27:00.parts of Somerset and North Dorset. Onshore breezes will make the coast
:27:01. > :27:07.cooler. These are the times of high water. If you are surfing, the
:27:08. > :27:22.biggest waves will be early in the day. This is the coastal waters
:27:23. > :27:32.forecast. That is the outlook through to the weekend.
:27:33. > :27:45.That's all from us. Have a good evening.