Summary

  • News, sport, travel and weather updates for the West of England

  1. Mental health beds for young people to be tripledpublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time 12 January 2018

    The number of mental health beds in Bristol for young people is to be tripled, the BBC has learnt.

    They'll be increased from nine to 32 by March this year.

    An event will be held in Bristol tomorrow calling for better resources for young people’s mental health services in the city.

    Joe McEvoy, from NHS England, says they've been implementing plans to increase the number of beds over the past year.

    Media caption,

    Watch: NHS England South Assistant Director of Specialised Commissioning Joe McEvoy

  2. Thousands advised to boil water because of parasitepublished at 07:14 Greenwich Mean Time 12 January 2018

    Thousands of people in North Somerset are being advised to boil their water.

    Cryptosporidium, which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting, has been found in the supply.

    More than 7,000 homes in the BS21 and BS49 postcodes areas around Clevedon are at risk.

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    Media caption,

    Watch: Ben Newby is Customer Services Manager at Bristol Water

  3. Weather: Friday will be sunny and coldpublished at 06:54 Greenwich Mean Time 12 January 2018

    Any fog patches should steadily lift away through the morning leaving a dry day with sunny spells.

    The wind will strengthen through the day, particularly across the far southwest later.

    Here's the full forecast.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Today's weather forecast for the West of England with Dan Downs

  4. Swan rescued after being hit by trainpublished at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Thomas the swanImage source, Secret World Wildlife Rescue

    A swan had to be rescued after being hit by a train in Somerset.

    The distressed bird, named Thomas, was found on tracks between Taunton and Bridgwater on 2 January.

    It was brought into Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre in East Huntspill where it was found to have a bruised carpel joint.

    The charity said the bird was expected to be returned to the wild.

  5. Woman calls for Weston homeless shelterpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Val Donigan and rough sleepers in Weston

    A campaign has been launched to open a night shelter in Weston-super-Mare so the town's rough sleepers have somewhere to go.

    Official figures show there are eight rough sleepers in North Somerset but volunteer Val Donegan, who hands out food, clothes and hot water bottles, says there are at least 15 in Weston alone.

    A Facebook page set up on Sunday has gathered nearly 1,000 members and volunteers who have begun meeting up to help people sleeping on the streets.

    North Somerset Council says it is in touch with the rough sleepers and is exploring the possibility of a night shelter.

  6. Talking mental health using the power of the circuspublished at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Media caption,

    The show at Bath's Rondo Theatre explores different sides to love.

    Rehearsals are under way for an upcoming show at Bath's Rondo Theatre, exploring the various sides to love.

    Evol is the brainchild of American contortionist Hannah Finn.

    Since the show encourages the audience to properly reflect on their emotions, she has joined forces with local charity Off The Record Banes, external to encourage discussions after the show has ended.

  7. Clevedon Crypto concerns: Bristol Water reassures customerspublished at 21:34 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

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  8. Poor women's health highlighted in Bristol studypublished at 21:20 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Media caption,

    Watch: Hartcliffe is one of the most deprived areas in the UK

    Bristol is not a great place to live if you are a woman, according to a major city-wide report looking at women's health.

    Death rates from cancer, lung disease and even suicide have been recorded as being higher than the national average.

    The city council report also focuses on areas of the city where women's lives are particularly tough - including Hartcliffe, which is reported to be one of the worst parts of the city for women's health.

  9. Big Cats series: Cute kitten alertpublished at 21:08 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Media caption,

    Watch: Meet some of the cuties from the Big Cats series

    For all kittens and cubs, play is important for developing skills and building strength - especially in the wild.

    The first episode of the Bristol-made Big Cats series is now available via the BBC iPlayer.

  10. Labour leader struck by NHS stress levels in Swindonpublished at 20:37 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Jeremy Corbyn meets NHS staff in SwindonImage source, PA

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has been in Swindon today.

    He met NHS staff at a community centre to discuss winter pressures on the health service.

    "It is no longer a winter crisis - it is a 12-month crisis in the NHS," he said.

    Mr Corbyn said the levels of stress reported by the staff was the issue that had struck him most about the visit.

    Jeremy Corbyn meets NHS staff in SwindonImage source, PA
    Jeremy Corbyn meets NHS staff in SwindonImage source, PA
  11. Bed closure 'to address CQC improvement requirements'published at 19:57 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    An NHS hospital in Green Lane, DevizesImage source, Google

    In a joint statement, here is what the Wiltshire healthcare bosses involved have said about the situation:

    Quote Message

    Due to quality issues identified by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection of the Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership Trust in 2016 and 2017, NHS England has authorised the temporary consolidation of two of three Health Based Places of Safety (HBPoS) Suites in Swindon and Salisbury to a third site in Devizes in Wiltshire for 12 months. This will provide an opportunity to address the CQC improvement requirements, particularly around assessment times. A key element of this will be to support the delivery of the Policing and Crime Act 2017 that amended the Mental Health Act to reduce the maximum period someone can be detained on a Section 135/6 from 72 to 24 hours. During the period of temporary reallocation, engagement will be undertaken with the populations of Swindon and Wiltshire and individuals using the service. This will then lead to recommendations to NHS England and NHS Improvement. Longer term arrangements in relation to these HSPoS suites will be subject to an NHS England assurance process.

    Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group and Avon and Wiltshire partnership NHS Trust, Joint statement

  12. Chelsea U21s draw Oxford in EFL Trophypublished at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Chelsea Under-21s will play last season's beaten finalists Oxford United in the Checkatrade Trophy quarter-finals.

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  13. Meet the world's smallest catpublished at 19:39 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Media caption,

    Watch: The world's smallest cat

    Meet the rusty spotted cat, the world's smallest cat.

    The feline, found in forests in Sri Lanka, is one of the stars of the Bristol-made Big Cats series which starts tonight on BBC1 at 8pm.

  14. A hip hop prop? Bath Rugby's Beno Obano on BBC 5Livepublished at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

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  15. Chasing a cheetah: How to film the fastest felinepublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Media caption,

    Watch: How to film alongside a sprinting cheetah

    A new three-part series from the Natural History Unit in Bristol starts on BBC One tonight.

    Big Cats uses technology and scientific research to explores the secret lives of big cats.

  16. Parasite found at water treatment workspublished at 18:31 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    People are being advised not to eat food prepared using the water and to avoid swimming.

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  17. Mental health bed closure decision 'deplorable'published at 18:26 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Dan O'Brien
    Political reporter, BBC Wiltshire

    Fountain Way, SalisburyImage source, Google

    Health bosses have been planning to replace the beds at Sandalwood Court in Swindon, as well as facilities at Fountain Way in Salisbury, with a bigger and better staffed facility in Devizes to serve the whole county instead.

    The idea faced a huge political backlash when they were first proposed last year as it would leave Wiltshire's biggest town without any such facilities on its doorstep, and health bosses had said they'd reconsider the options.

    But today NHS England has confirmed the beds can be closed for a year while a final plan is drawn up.

    Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for Adult Social Care, Brian Ford, has described the decision as "deplorable".

  18. Emergency mental health facilities being shut temporarilypublished at 17:58 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Sandalwood House in SwindonImage source, Google

    Two out of three mental health facilities in Wiltshire are being temporarily shut.

    The units with beds are being closed for 12 months to allow concerns from inspectors to be addressed, according to health chiefs.

    People detained under the Mental Health Act use the beds while they wait to be assessed and given treatment.

    The two suites which will close are in Sandalwood Court, Swindon, and Fountain Way, Salisbury.

    A third site, Green Lane in Devizes, will have extra capacity for the year.

  19. What is cryptosporidium parasite?published at 17:30 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Cryptosporidium protozoanImage source, Science

    How harmful is it?

    It can cause extreme diarrhoea, and to those with weakened immune levels it can be severe and even life-threatening.

    What happens if you ingest it?

    The most common symptom is diarrhoea but other warning signs include dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss.

    Where is crypto usually found?

    Crypto is found in water, food or soil contaminated by infected faeces.

    Where has it been discovered in Clevedon?

    Low levels of crypto were detected in samples taken at Clevedon treatment works, which has now been taken out of operation with water supplied from a different treatment works.

  20. Green signs new Yeovil contractpublished at 17:20 Greenwich Mean Time 11 January 2018

    Winger Jordan Green signs a new contract with Yeovil Town, keeping him at Huish Park until at least 2019.

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