29/07/2014 Spotlight

normal temperatures. Peter, thank you. That is all from me. Now on BBC

One we Treating patients like they're

shifting boxes ` criticism of the company providing hospital

transport in parts of the region. Drivers working for NSL have

told Spotlight they have serious The drivers are harassed and worried

all day long to move onto the next pick up or drop`off.

An unacceptable number of sewage overflows onto our beaches.

A campaign group lobbies MP's to limit the amount of discharges

Sorting out the not spots ` a solution is offered

And a huge turn`out for Honiton's hot pennies.

Some ambulance staff providing hospital transport in the South West

say they don't have time to give vulnerable patients

the service they deserve and their company treats patients

The NHS in Devon says problems with patient transport are unacceptable.

There have also been concerns in other parts of the country.

Health commissioners in Kent have given the same firm, NSL, an

Our Health Correspondent Sally Mountjoy has this exclusive report.

Three days a week, Diana travels full kidney dialysis. She has had

many problems because the driver has two drop`off patients a long way off

route. You are tired after your dialysis anyway and sometimes you're

feeling very well will stop all you want to do is get home. All they are

worried about is running their business. She has had a letter to

say a shortfall affects many of their patients. NSL and the Dover

the business to another company last September.

`` handed over. Two ambulance crew have told us of their concerns and

we are not identifying them but they said poor scheduling means they are

frequently late and have to overload ambulances with more and billet ``

patients than they can care for and have no time to ensure people are

safe at home when they dropped off. The drivers are hurried to move onto

the next appointment and pick up. It doesn't allow time for that. It is

distressing to drivers who fundamentally come from a care

background may be. We sometimes have the wrong information for a patient

and are constantly apologising profusely because we are getting the

wrong timings. The thing that strikes us is they have a lack of

understanding of the fact they are transporting patients. These are

people who are vulnerable by virtue of being ill or after an operation.

NSL run transport in Kent where the NHS has given them an ultimatum.

Improved performance of a section. The Care Quality Comission published

reports earlier this year and inspectors are due to report on

their progress next month. Well Doctor Belinda Webb is

a spokeswoman for NSL. I asked her what she thought

of the criticism from the drivers We don't view patients

as boxes to be shifted. We train our colleagues to

the highest levels. We do have KPI's to meet

and they are set out in the contract They state we have 15 minutes to

collect the patient either from You are dealing with elderly or

vulnerable patients and to enforce that wouldn't be

the best thing to do. That is not what

the drivers are telling us. They say they feel harassed

and hurried. Let us put indicators to one side

because we are talking about real human beings here,

patients and drivers both We have very good internal reporting

procedures and I must say I am confused why

colleagues would come straight to the BBC as their first port of call

in saying they are harassed. Are you saying

your drivers who have contacted us They have a legitimate complaint if

they feel that way and if they feel harassed but their first port of

call should be their line manager. You can argue whether they have

taken the right approach but those complaints have now been

made and made quite forcibly. We would ask any colleague who

feels harassed and pressured We have well`publicised procedures

and it has to be reiterated and I feel as though I must always do this

when speaking to the media, that the vast majority of patients throughout

the south`west are taken to their You seem to be dismissing it

a little too easily. Why did they say there was

a shortfall in the service We work closely with the Royal Devon

and Exeter hospital and will This is not a stand`alone service,

it works We have 15 minutes per patient to

get on board a vehicle and there are often factors that are

not in our control. Those patients suffer

extraordinarily when you don't get to them on time

as we have heard in a report. One patient is saying it has become

so reliable, she gets so frustrated that she is on the verge of a

breakdown because of the transport I fully sympathise with her and I

know waiting for your transport is I would urge her to let us

have full details of those. We have feedback forms

on board the vehicles but I also feel as if I have to

provide context and say we do get the majority of patients to their

appointments early and on time. And we'd like to hear views

on that story, especially if you are You can get in touch in a variety

of ways including E`mail, Twitter, The addresses you need are all

on your screen now. The sudden death of a man

in Weymouth is being treated Police were called to a flat in

St Leonard's Road in Chapelhay They found the body

of a 43`year`old man. Police say they're not able to

release any further details. Plans to merge fire services

in Dorset and Wiltshire to save money were

considered by councillors today. A full merger is one

of three options. Others could see Wiltshire remain

a stand alone service but working closer with local councils

and cutting backroom staff. The Fire Brigades Union

has voiced concerns. A new tarmac runway has been

completed at Land's End Airport It replaces a grass runway that

was often closed in heavy rain. It had been due to open last week

but there was a problem with The campaign group,

Surfers Against Sewage says the number of sewage overflows onto

Southwest beaches is unacceptable. It says there have been more than

3,600 spills on over 300 beaches across

the country in the last four years. The organisation has released

a new smart phone application which warns users about overflows

from sewage plants and gives the Spotlight's David George

reports from Gwithian. A loan paddler. The beach soon fills

up. It is a popular spot yet there has been four raw sewage overflows

here including one which closed the beach a surfing competition last

month. Are said to have had to wade through raw sewage to get out of the

water. Beach users protested about it at the weekend. I became

incredibly ill. My guests wail as well. I decided that enough is

enough and it has been happening for years. Nothing has changed and there

has been no investment. There are 1700 of these out Paul's. This one

will flow into the red River here and eventually download the beach a

mile away. The regulations allow overflows to take place and usually

happen when sewage works become inundated after heavy rainfall. They

have been discharging for years that they are unacceptable. It is the

sea. A new phone application created by surfers warns beach users when

overflows happen and gives the history of spills on 300 beaches

across the country. You can be warned when there is an overflow and

you can find out when it happens. Is this a one if `` one`off event or a

more chronic problem that is impacting your beach long term? The

group lobbying MPs and ministers to change the rules to limit discharges

to only nine times a year with only three of those in the summer bathing

season. And David is live for us tonight

at Gwithian. David,

what are South West Water saying? And wanted to put some of the points

raised by surfers to someone from Southwest water. They sent a long

statement and I will summarise it. A huge amount of money were spent in

the past. That is the clean sweep project and before that sewage in

the sea was a regular occurrence. They say these combined outfalls are

an important and legal way of protecting premises from flooding.

They say they comply with the current regulations on say this year

alone they have spent ?20 million at seven locations in Devon and

Cornwall to make the season even cleaner. This evening, the weather

has changed and there is a lot of rain falling in West Cornwall. If I

switched to the cleaner service app, I can tell you that none of the

beaches in this part of Cornwall as any outfalls flowing at the moment.

Police say the use of Ketamine by people in parts of Somerset is

There's been a dramatic rise in the amount seized

Doctors say they've noticed more young professionals taking Ketamine,

which is having a devastating impact on their bodies.

The drug is traditionally used as a horse tranquiliser.

It is sometimes hard for us to detect

If we search a house, we can't seize potentially 150

Unlike powders which we find in bulk form, we can trace them back

to a certain place in that house and it is sometimes hard to detect.

What has been surprising about the use of Ketamine is they

are more normal people with jobs and families who are presenting

with chronic bladder problems as a result of their Ketamine use.

Often they find the only way to cope with the symptoms is

You can see more on that story at 10:25pm.

Villages across the region that lack a decent mobile phone signal

are being urged to tap into a possible solution that's on offer.

Vodafone has been trying out a way of providing 3G signals in areas

So far just one community in the south west has had

Our business correspondent Neil Gallacher has been there.

If you live in Newton Saint Sires north of Exeter, you can count

your blessings but you can't count on a good mobile phone signal.

For users of one network, a novel approach has produced

a mobile phone signal even though there is no mast nearby.

A number of tiny transmitting boxes have been placed on a selection

of local public buildings sending out a 3G signal.

A handful will cover a small village.

They connect back to the network via a landline to

If you go onto the maps, there is no signal here.

Around the area, we are in the footprint of the cells getting

This is not technologically complex but it is expensive

so you will only see this where maths don't work or aren't allowed.

Vodafone wants more villages to come forward and get involved.

This type of approach could benefit many areas, not just Devon.

This businessman works out of a base in Bodmin.

We have seen huge investment in broadband infrastructure

so that is the fixed telephone line and our business has invested

It gets frustrating when you're out on the road and haven't got

the same level of connectivity as you have in the office.

4G will cover more of the area but in the meantime,

if I have one of the companies saying they will look at places to

trial new technologies, I would like that to happen in north Cornwall.

I am inviting people to put a bid in and get access.

Anyone can get this as long as they have the approval

of their local MP and also an acceptance that is the best local

pubs will no longer be safely beyond the reach of the mobile signal.

English Heritage has revealed that a hut in Devon used

by the author of Tarka the Otter has been given Grade 2 listed status.

Henry Williamson wrote the much`loved novel back in the 1920s.

It won him several cash prizes, which he used to build

The hut was sold for what's said to be an extraordinary sum back in May.

And you can read more about that Tarka story on the BBC news website.

It may be celebrating its 150th year, but it's still full

steam ahead for a stunning stretch of railway in South Devon.

The line between Paignton and Kingswear is now a hugely

popular tourist attraction and today a time capsule was buried alongside

A trip back in time for a ride on a steam train is a heritage experience

but back in Victorian times, it was pioneering technology.

In 1848, the first section of the Torquay line was opened.

It was extended to Paignton but it wasn't until 1864 that

the section between Paignton and Kingsmere was completed.

At the station today, 150 years on from that historic opening,

a time capsule was buried as part of a series of celebrations.

We are raising money for Dame Hannah's Trust based in Newton

Abbott and I am delighted that there was a connection here because it was

He set up the River Dart steamboat company which ran

Rowena's father was instrumental in rescuing the railway

in the 70s after it was axed by Doctor Beeching.

It was fitting that she put some personal items in.

He would be absolutely delighted and I am so proud to be able to do

Back in 1859 when Paignton station was opened,

there were huge celebrations with a vest Paignton pudding

The current directors have organised a beer festival

which will get underway next month along with lots of other events

including a chance to drive steam trains and a candlelit walk through

Now it's a big night for the South West at the Commonwealth Games.

Plymouth Leander swimmer Ben Proud is chasing his second gold medal

Meanwhile Cornwall's Jemma Simpson is hoping for more success on

the athletics track and Ivybridge weightlifter Sonny Webster hopes to

Dave Gibbons is in Glasgow with more on that

Who are those guests? All will be revealed. First, let us have a look

at tonight's finals. At 7:15pm, then proud goes for his second gold in

the final of the 50 minute `` 50 metre freestyle. `` Ben proud.

Shortly after is the turn of Sonny Webster. He makes his debut in the

weightlifting. He is 20. Jemma Simpson just before ten o'clock goes

the final of the 1500 metres and she came fifth in heat yesterday. Here

they are. Natalie and Sophie, lawn bowlers for England and you won a

gold four years ago and now you are adorning the silver medal.

Congratulations. Have you recover from that final? We started our

second discipline now so we were back onto it and I had to forget

about it and put it aside. It was amazing to win a silver medal. I was

disappointed that I had lost but I had a medal in my second games. You

are taking part in the pairs now. Can you go all the way again and win

a gold? That is the aim. Another medal would be amazing but we have

to take one game at a time. We have Wales tomorrow morning and Canada

straight after. It will be a tough day but hopefully we can top our

group. Sophie, you were on top form but you were eliminated but you have

a chance of a muddle and emulating your old brother, Sam, who wore a

bronze medal yesterday after winning in the men's pairs. We won one goal

`` we won one game. It will be a big game for us and we need to win that

game tomorrow to go through to the quarterfinals. Has Sam being

encouraging you? He has been supportive but it is hard for us

because a lot of our games are clashing so we are on the greens at

the same time. He is really supportive to me and he tells me to

take one game at a time. Finally coming your fiance is a number `` is

another member of the bowling team. Has he given you a kiss and cuddle?

It is great to have him there. When you have someone here who you love

whether it is a family member or partner, you have to focus on your

own performance. He was over the moon for me when I wore my medal and

I was disappointed for them to miss out on the quarterfinals of the

triples. They have another chance in the fours so hopefully they will be

in the quarterfinals. Lovely to have you company. That is it from Glasgow

this evening. You can find out more on our late bulletin.

You may remember a few weeks ago we sent Spotlight's Hamish Marshall to

St Peter's School in Exeter to film students playing Ultimate Frisbee.

Some of the team were preparing to represent Great Britain

in the European Championships and we can tell you that they beat

Austria 10`6 in the final of the Under`17 event in Italy.

Out of the 20 man GB squad, 8 of the players were from the St.

And the school captain, James Mattin, captained the GB team.

It's been raining hot pennies in Honiton today.

The organisers of the annual tradition say it attracted

Moving the date has allowed hundreds of school children to attend

It's hoped engaging the younger generation will help

Spotlight's Emma Ruminski has been finding out

about the tradition that's been held annually since the 13th century.

Armed with plastic bags and buckets, there are more than a few

children hoping the hot penny ceremony will make them rich quick.

Moving the event has helped bolster the turnout was supplementing their

pocket money. How much have you got so far? Not much but I am enjoying

it. I haven't counted. What are you hoping to spend with your money?

Suites. How much are you hoping to get? ?1. I had to duck and dive but

most of them were on the floor. No injuries? No. The custom dates back

to 1221 when the more affluent inhabitants of the town would heat

up coins in the fire and throw them to peasant children delighting in

the squeals as they burnt themselves trying to retrieve them. You don't

have to go back to the 13th century to get your fingers burned. It hit

me on the nose and I had a score for a long time. It was really hot but

with the change of legislation, they are not allowed to be hot any more.

Today, it is lukewarm rather than hot pennies. Some of the youngsters

have clearly done this before and have come prepared for a shower of

copper. It is not so much about catching them but trying not to get

hit by them. Hat wearers were definitely better off. How much have

you caught? There is the town crier benevolent fund in there. Hopefully

a lot. Hundreds of pounds do get thrown out. Custom dictates that no

one is told how much is thrown out into the streets but it could be

that nobody wants to count all of that copper. Reigning pennies there.

It it `` is it raining elsewhere in the region?

The cloud has broken up quite nicely. There could be large amounts

of cloud around but it is still dry and there is still some sunshine

coming through with top temperature is 22 Celsius. For the Commonwealth

Games, it is a different story. We have cloudy skies tomorrow and some

culprits of rain possible. For the athletes taking part, there will be

some rain around. Not much happening this evening. We are left with a

ridge of high pressure but changes are happening as we move towards the

end of the week. We have the risk of showers on Thursday. Already you can

see that cloud creeping in through the afternoon. This was earlier

today. We did have some fine weather and sunshine and patchy cloud and on

the beaches at the moment, it is pleasant. The sea temperature is 19

Celsius. Looking further ahead, overnight night would keep that

cloud band moving through and it might generate a shower. By the

early hours of the morning, that cloud band is breaking up. We have

clearing skies letting the temperatures fall down to 12

Celsius. A cool start to the day tomorrow but large amounts of cloud

throughout the day. There are sunny spells at times and temperatures

similar to today. 21 or 22 Celsius. For the coastal waters, the winds

are from the north`west tomorrow. I said there was going to be a change

and it will happen on Thursday. Their risk `` there is the risk of

some showers and they will come quite frequent into the weekend.

Saturday, we could have some heavy showers. It is cooler over the next

few days. Thanks very much for everybody that has got in touch with

us. We have had lots of e`mails about all sorts of subjects. Phone

signals, Ambulance Services. Have a good evening. Goodbye.

I leave the ashram, travel halfway across the world to find my father,

Oh, well. As Vashrati says, gotta keep smiling!

We don't tend to use the bathroom together here.

All right, well, I'll catch you later.

This ashram of yours, it might be a cult.

I take it back, he's definitely Cuckoo's son.