Summary

  • Updates for Norfolk

  1. Rise in coronavirus deaths in East is lowest for 10 dayspublished at 08:25 British Summer Time 21 April 2020

    Matt Precey
    BBC Look East

    On Monday evening the government released, external its latest figures for coronavirus deaths in the UK in the past day.

    In the BBC East region, statistics for each NHS hospital trust show a rise of 46 deaths, the lowest increase in 10 days.

    The total number of deaths at the region's hospitals is now 1,863.

    • Basildon and Thurrock - 9
    • Bedford -1
    • East and North Hertfordshire - 2
    • Colchester and Ipswich - 7
    • Hertfordshire Community - 1
    • James Paget, Gorleston - 3
    • Kettering General - 2
    • Luton and Dunstable - 1
    • Milton Keynes - 2
    • Norfolk and Norwich - 3
    • North West Anglia - 1
    • Royal Papworth Hospital, Cambridge - 1
    • Princess Alexandra, Harlow - 4
    • Queen Elizabeth, King's Lynn - 5
    • West Hertfordshire Hospitals - 3
    • West Suffolk - 1

    The total number of COVID-19 associated deaths at all UK hospitals stands at 16,509.

  2. Kookaburra laughs in the face of lockdownpublished at 19:22 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Kat Tate and her pet kookaburra can be seen taking walks in the UK countryside during lockdown.

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  3. Safety demand after child killed by inflatablepublished at 18:57 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Ava-May Littleboy suffered a fatal head injury when an inflatable trampoline exploded in Norfolk.

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  4. 'My seven year old asked if mummy was going to die'published at 18:52 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    A woman with severe asthma describes the "heartbreaking" aftermath of catching coronavirus.

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  5. Masked angel figure tribute to coronavirus care staffpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    A figure of a masked angel has been created by a laser cutting company at Terrington St Clement in Norfolk to mark the courage and dedication of staff dealing with coronavirus patients at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital, external in King's Lynn.

    The design, by managing director of Javik Laser Creations, external James Hodge, was inspired by his paramedic partner and an NHS worker neighbour "who go out to work every day and put everyone else first".

    Masked angelImage source, Javik Laser Creations

    Mr Hodge said: "It was done on a new machine and to my own surprise I was successful.

    "I have spoken to the hospital but I do not know where it is going to go yet. I didn't want to get in their way as it has been a fraught day for them losing one of their colleagues and several patients.

    "I just want to say the staff there are a different breed, not seeing their families and knowing all the risks. They are all amazing."

    The plaque on the figure says: "Dedicated to all the staff at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital for their tireless work during the coronavirus crisis 2020."

  6. 'Bored' kookaburra goes for lockdown walkaboutspublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Siren the kookaburra is a familiar sight, walking with his owner in the Norfolk countryside.

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  7. Florist gives 1,200 bouquets to hospital workerspublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    The florist says she wants to honour those who work for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

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  8. 'Valued' healthcare assistant dies from Covid-19published at 15:16 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    A "valued" healthcare assistant died after testing positive for Covid-19, a hospital said.

    The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, external (QEH) in King's Lynn, Norfolk, said its staff were "coming to terms" with the "devastating" news that Christine Emerson died over the weekend.

    Christine EmersonImage source, Queen Elizabeth Hospital

    It said Mrs Emerson was a "much-loved" wife to Michael and a "cherished" mother and grandmother.

    The hospital offered its condolences to her family.

    In a joint statement, chief executive Caroline Shaw and and Professor Steve Barnett, QEH chairman, said: "The whole family at QEH is deeply saddened at losing Chrissie Emerson who was such a valued colleague."

  9. Teachers' 'missing you' message for pupils at homepublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Teachers at a primary school came together in a social media montage to send a message to home-schooling pupils to remind them that lessons should have begun again today after the Easter holiday.

    Staff from Peterhouse Primary Academy, external in Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk, lined up with placards carrying this special message: "Children your teachers miss you so much so please take care, stay safe and remember we are here and always the Peterhouse family."

    Teachers' line-upImage source, Pedterhouse Primary Academy

    Parent Becky Louise Lumb posted a thank you on social media which said: "This is lovely and we miss all of you as well.

    "We hope you're all keeping safe too and remember us parents are here for you as well and we appreciate everything you're doing for us too - especially all you key workers that are looking after our children."

    Another parent, Louise Thompson wrote: "My girls are missing all their teachers and friends."

  10. Nurses' children in 'stay at home' video appealpublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    The youngsters star in a film made by a nurse to urge people to protect the NHS from coronavirus.

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  11. A47 upgrade consultation extended due to viruspublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Consultation on plans to upgrade part of the A47 in Norfolk to a dual carriageway has been extended until 23:59 on Thursday, 30 April.

    The decision follows the closure of information collection points because of the coronavirus pandemic and is designed to allow more people living along the route to offer comments.

    Crowded A47Image source, Highways England

    Highways England, external has already announced its preferred option for five miles of new dual carriageway between North Tuddenham and Easton.

    The scheme is part of a £300m upgrade which they say will save up to seven minutes on journeys and improve safety.

    Map of A47 upgradeImage source, Highways England

    Peter Havlicek, Highways England project lead, said: "Extending the consultation was the right thing to do in response to the disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.

    "This extension will give everyone extra time to understand the changes and give us feedback, either online, external or by returning a paper response form."

  12. What the papers say in Norfolkpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Here's a look at the latest coverage of the coronavirus pandemic from Norfolk:

    • The chairman of the National Care Association has told workers in Norfolk to travel to their nearest Covid-19 testing centre in Sheffield, a 300-mile round trip which would take more than five hours, the Eastern Daily Press, external reports
    • Four more patients have died at the Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital in King's Lynn from Covid-19 bringing the total to 56, according to the Lynn News, external
    • An eight-year-old boy from Oulton Broad has made his neighbours smile by hanging his hand-crafted wooden heart up on his driveway - emblazoned with the names of key workers and NHS staff, the Great Yarmouth Mercury, external reports
  13. Air ambulance ready to welcome back pilot princepublished at 11:13 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    The East Anglian Air Ambulance, external (EAAA) would "welcome back with open arms" the Duke of Cambridge who was a pilot with the organisation for two years up to 2017.

    The service is busy working with the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic transferring patients between hospitals and this is expected to increase to as many as 50 flights a day.. a big rise from its eight flights a day, external before the pandemic.

    Prince WilliamImage source, PA

    In March, Prince William revealed to the national press that he would like to return to the service. He has a house at Anmer in Norfolk which is part of the Queen's Sandringham estate.

    EAAA operations director Matthew Jones said: "Our capacity to help is limited by the number of crews we have.

    "Whatever Prince William decides to do in this crisis is of course very welcome ... whether that's flying an air ambulance or supporting the NHS in other ways."

  14. Stranded teenager flees cyclone-hit Fijipublished at 01:07 British Summer Time 20 April 2020

    Emily Rash, 19, says it is "heartbreaking" the country is battling "two disasters at once".

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  15. DVSA told to act after pedestrian killed by lorrypublished at 18:20 British Summer Time 19 April 2020

    Dudley Howe, 82, was hit in a blind spot of a lorry which did not have properly adjusted mirrors.

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  16. Photos chronicle scenes in lockdown 'ghost city'published at 09:26 British Summer Time 19 April 2020

    Dickie Hartt, 63, uses his daily walks to photograph the streets of Norwich.

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  17. Hospital to come out of special measurespublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Inspectors say care standards have risen at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

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  18. 'Surge centre' for Eastern region revealedpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Up to 170 extra beds will be opened in Norwich to treat the East of England's sickest patients.

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  19. Nursing boss returns to hospital 24 hours after retiringpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Nic Rigby
    BBC News

    The retirement of a long-serving director at one of the region's hospitals lasted little more than 24 hours, after she returned to work to support the team through the coronavirus pandemic.

    Julia Hunt, director of nursing at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, had been due to step down after 32 years' service at the hospital.

    Julia HuntImage source, James Paget Hospital

    But after the start of the coronavirus pandemic she decided to return.

    She has taken on the role of director of infection control while also providing support for her successor Paul Morris.

    She told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I was very much looking forward to retirement but I just could not walk away from all of my colleagues and friends through this pandemic, hence the 24-hour retirement.

    "Infection control always played a key part of my work as director of nursing but with the enormity of this pandemic this enables me to have much more of a focus on it."

  20. Staff clap as coronavirus survivor leaves hospitalpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 17 April 2020

    Nurses and doctors clapped and cheered as the patient was taken through the hospital ward.

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