Ambulance workers share heartbreaking stories of wait times
Two Unison members have appeared on a powerful ITV report into ambulance waiting times.
Senior paramedic and Unison branch chair Glenn Carrington, who has worked for the Ambulance Service for almost 30 years, described how dire the situation has become.
“We’re spending so much time sat outside the hospital. The record so far is 10 and a half hours.
“Literally 10 and a half hours with our patient in the back of our vehicle, unable to move into the hospital.”
When ITV health editor Emily Morgan asked: “Did that patient deteriorate?” Mr Carrington responded: “They always deteriorate.
“We’ve had a few people die in the back of our ambulances. And the guilt you feel, the anger, the frustration. I can’t put it into words, it’s heartbreaking.”
Recent statistics show that 1 in 10 ambulances wait more than an hour to admit patients to hospital. This is a steep increase since 2019, when the figure was 1 in 50.
However, there are also significant delays in getting ambulances out to patients in the first place.
Unison national officer Alan Lofthouse said: “Because there’s no real response from government to solve the problem, it feels like the individual workers are taking that on.
“We hear of people who go to work who have to sit in their car in tears, or people in control centres who take calls and have to go and cry in the toilet because they feel so much pressure themselves.”
Lincoln Christmas Market announces St Barnabas as first Charity Partner
City of Lincoln Council are delighted to announce St Barnabas has been selected as the Lincoln Christmas Market’s very first Charity Partner.
Both organisations are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and have been highly regarded and much loved by the local communities for all those years.
Taking place from Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 December in the beautiful and historic Bailgate area, the Lincoln Christmas Market welcomes hundreds of thousands visitors every year and is one of the most loved events in Lincolnshire.
St Barnabas will be in attendance, occupying a traditional wooden cabin by the Lincoln Cathedral where the charity will have their annual Tree of Life on full display.
The Tree of Life is part of the Hospice’s Light Up a Life campaign, which sees families and friends join together to remember loved ones they have lost.
The Hospice is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and help over 12,000 people across Lincolnshire each year by providing free, compassionate, dignified palliative and end-of-life care, as well as wellbeing services such as bereavement support, counselling, and welfare and benefits advice.
Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council added: “It is an incredible special year for us at the Lincoln Christmas Market and we are proud to welcome St Barnabas as our first Christmas Market Charity Partner as we both celebrate 40 years.
“Lincoln Christmas Market started with just 11 stalls and is now a very well recognised event not only across the county but the country.
“To celebrate 40 years, we have a host of new elements to the market, including a new stage area, a special opening ceremony at Noon on the first day of the market and of course, our first charity partnership.
Veronica McBain, Head of Fundraising and Lottery at St Barnabas says: “It is serendipitous that both St Barnabas and the Lincoln Christmas Market are celebrating a 40th anniversary this year.
“We sincerely thank the City of Lincoln Council for choosing us, it means the world to us to have the support of the Council and local communities. We look forward to an extra special Christmas Market and hope to see many of our supporters there.”
A truly magical Christmas shopping experience at Burghley
Burghley is set to sparkle with the annual seasonal shopping spectacular, the Burghley Christmas Fair, welcoming visitors from the 24th to 27th November. The beautiful courtyards and grounds of Burghley House will be filled with traditional chalets and heated marquees, along with an avenue of pagodas bedecked in sparkling Christmas decorations and lights. The region’s most magical Christmas Fair with over 130 stalls offering everything from luxury gifts to artisan food and drink and decorations to winter clothing. Find the perfect Christmas gifts for loved ones, pick up some unique stocking fillers and enjoy mouth-watering food and drink as you shop.
There will also be a large Victorian carousel, lit up for the season, and traditional music from local carol singers making it a wonderful festive day out for the whole family.
A whole host of local exhibitors will be taking part including Scandimania, whose home-baked Swedish-style fare and speciality coffee is loved county-wide, Oakham-based My Noodle Bug offering unique range of cards and prints, Multum Gin Parvo whose gins are designed to capture the essence of the local area and Stamford Oak Creations with a beautiful selection of hand-crafted gifts. Not forgetting stalls for four-legged friends, Ruff and Tumble will be bringing their cosy dog coats and accessories.
Open from 9.30am to 4.30pm each day, plus this year there will be a new ticket available for late-night shopping on Friday 25th, from 5.30pm to 9pm. Advance tickets cost £6 adults, £3 children, or £8 and £4 on the gate. For full details and to book event tickets visit www.burghley.co.uk
Murder investigation launched following death of woman in Messingham
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a woman in Messingham.
Police were called to a property on Elm Way, Messingham following reports of a concern for safety of a woman at approximately 12:40am on Sunday 6th November.
Sadly, the 50-year-old woman died in the early hours of the morning and Police have now opened a murder investigation.
The victim’s family are currently being supported by specially trained officers.
The 54-year-old man remains in our custody whilst officers continue with lines of enquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Vickers said: “We understand that a tragic incident of this nature will cause shock to the local community, but I would like to reassure people that this is an isolated incident between individuals known to each other with no wider risk to members of the public.
“Those living in the area can expect to see a number of officers over the coming days whilst a scene guard remains in place, and we continue with our investigation.
Seeing the sites – Gainsborough school children learn site safety and housebuilding at Lincolnshire development
Early years pupils from Frances Olive Anderson C of E Primary School were given a hands-on demonstration in site safety and building a wall, while visiting Rippon Homes’ Rose Gardens development in Lea, Lincolnshire.
20 children from the school’s reception year were welcomed to the development just off Willingham Road, by site team Neil Bisatt (Site Manager), Alan Isaac (Health and Safety Manager) and Sophie Hopkinson (Field Sales Manager), to learn more about housebuilding and how to stay safe around a building site.
The reception class have a topic for each term – this time it’s ‘Build it Up’, and to help with this, the site team provided a bricklaying demonstration, where pupils were shown how lots of smaller parts can build up into one bigger part.
With the school being located close to the development, the pupils were also taught how dangerous construction sites can be, before seeing some of the team in action.
This is the second visit that Frances Olive Anderson C of E have made to the Rose Gardens site this year, with Years 2 and 5 exploring the development back in May.
These school trips are all part of Rippon Homes’ commitment to community work and forging relationships with those in Lea and the wider area.
Reception Teacher at Frances Olive Anderson C of E Primary School, Rosanna McGlynn, said, “This was a fantastic experience for the children on what was their first ever school trip. From learning how to use a trowel, to measuring spirit level and seeing how a digger works, they’ve been given a day out to remember.
“The site team at Rose Gardens could not have been more welcoming, and they were fantastic with the children. There were a lot of questions, and everybody was patient and understanding, talking to the children at their level. We’ve been teaching them about shapes and what things are made from, so this experience helped to consolidate their learning.”
Ian Dyke, Managing Director at Rippon Homes, said, “It’s great to see children so enthusiastic for housebuilding at an early age, and we wanted to give local pupils a glimpse of what it’s like to work on a new homes development like Rose Gardens.
“These visits are not only a good way to teach children how developments work, but emphasise the importance of staying away from building sites.
“We hope that pupils from Frances Olive Anderson enjoyed their first school trip and came away more knowledgeable as a result.”
Support for pub owners in Lincolnshire and Rutland
Places are available on Business Lincolnshire’s programme that supports pubs across Greater Lincolnshire and Rutland to increase revenue and welcome new customers.
The Pub Diversification programme has been developed in partnership with the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership to help pub owners and managers across the county diversify their offerings.
Local pubs can use the programme to develop projects such as creating overnight accommodation, expanding into retail services, building additional facilities for walkers and cyclists, or even including motorhome hook-up points and electric vehicle chargers in car parks.
Cllr Colin Davie, Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Environment and Planning at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Many businesses in the hospitality industry have struggled to survive in recent years, and this programme can really help them expand and thrive. By developing other income streams, pubs can be more robust and expand their services within the wider community.
“Our team of professionals will be helping pub owners and managers put a plan in place to help generate new ideas and introduce a fresh approach to the running of their business.”
As part of the programme, Business Lincolnshire is offering professional one-on-one advice and support, diagnostic help, as well as expert advice to help pub owners and managers create a tailored roadmap, taking their business to the next level.
There are a restricted number of places on the programme. To find out more about the programme and to register your interest, visit the Business Lincolnshire website here.
Robbers who kidnapped Christmas shopping couple each sentenced to 12 years
Two men who hijacked a couple’s car as they were on their way home after Christmas shopping last year have been sentenced to 12 years each in prison.
Joshua Pougher, aged 31 and Daniel Nicklin, aged 31 both pleaded guilty to robbery and two counts of kidnap. Pougher also pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon.
The duo travelled to Francis Street, Scunthorpe, on Wednesday 22 December 2021, entered a bank at 4:00pm and then threatened staff with a machete whilst demanding money.
Whilst a member of staff alerted emergency services, the two men continued to threaten other staff, emptying tills of cash they could access.
As Pougher and Nicklin fled the scene, they then gained entry to the car of a couple who had stopped at some traffic lights having been Christmas shopping.
The men threatened the couple, forcing them to drive through traffic, across the Humber Bridge and back to their home town of05 Hull.
As they arrived in Hull, the man was bitten as the pair fled from the car with the money.
They were arrested by armed response officers at 7:00pm that evening and taken into custody, where they were later charged with the offences.
Both appeared for sentencing at Grimsby Magistrates Court on Friday 29 October, where her Honour Judge McKone commented: “Both men are dangerous offenders who have still given no thought to the impact of their offending on their victims.”
Detective Constable Ian Mould leading the investigation said: “I would like to praise the courage of the victims in assisting with our enquiries and the investigation.
“Nobody should ever be made to feel unsafe, whether that be at work, home or when going about their daily lives, of which these two men gave no care or consideration about, being motivated by their own greed and selfishness.
“This was a reckless attack and I hope that the outcome of the court case provides members of the community with the reassurance that we are there, in your communities, to support and take swift and positive action against those responsible for serious offences and bring them to justice with help from detectives in the Major Crime Team.”
Getting into the festive spirit
Here at Lincolnshire Today, we’re already getting into the festive spirit, and it seems a few venues around the county are busy preparing too.
One such example is Belton,which looks set to make Christmas more magical this year, with a new after-dark illuminated trail transforming the gardens with over a million twinkling lights and seasonal sounds.
A must see feature is their sprawling artistic illumination named ‘The Rose Garden’, inspired by England’s national flower, which consists of thousands of handmade roses with dainty petals of white silk. It may look pretty in daylight, but when darkness falls, it bursts into glittering patterns. Then there’s the views out across the pond where guests can admire the reflections of the origami paper boats afloat on the water.
If that doesn’t get you into the festive spirit then nothing will, but just for good measure, a crew of talented independent street food vendors offering a range of delicious and tempting festive treats.
The event runs from 24th November through to 1st January.
A must see feature is their sprawling artistic illumination named ‘The Rose Garden’, inspired by England’s national flower, which consists of thousands of handmade roses with dainty petals of white silk. It may look pretty in daylight, but when darkness falls, it bursts into glittering patterns. Then there’s the views out across the pond where guests can admire the reflections of the origami paper boats afloat on the water.
If that doesn’t get you into the festive spirit then nothing will, but just for good measure, a crew of talented independent street food vendors offering a range of delicious and tempting festive treats.
The event runs from 24th November through to 1st January.
Lincoln Care Home placed in special measures after allegations of abuse
A Lincoln care home for people with learning disabilities and autism has been placed in special measures by a health watchdog, following allegations of abuse.
An investigation by Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the Phoenix in Lincoln discovered that residents “retreated to their bedrooms as they were scared”.
The facility, which is run by Linkage Community Trust, when subjected to a CQC inspection, was found to be inadequate due to a number of anomalies ranging from areas of the property being “visibly dirty” through to risks that were not always identified, and medicine records that did not always contain the information for safe practices .
Debbie Ivanova, CQC’s director for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, said that the standard of care had “deteriorated significantly” since the last inspection at The Phoenix.
She stressed: “People’s safety and wellbeing needs weren’t always being met, and risks weren’t effectively managed. “It was concerning that people at the service didn’t always feel safe. There were times when people experienced distress and incident records showed that they had retreated to their bedrooms as they were scared. “Two people at the service had complex needs, one person’s needs were medical, and the other needed support when they became distressed. “With only one member of staff available during the night, there was a risk that they wouldn’t able to meet the needs of each person which placed them at risk of harm.”Parents charged after dog savages and kills 3 month old baby
Two people have been charged in connection with the death of a three-month-old baby girl who died after being attacked by a dog in March.
Karen Alcock, 41, of Castledyke Bank, New York, Lincoln, and Vince King, 54, of the same address have been charged with being in charge of a dog which was out of control causing injury resulting in death.
Officers were called to reports that the baby girl, Kyra King, had been seriously injured at Ostlers Plantation near to Woodhall Spa at 11.13pm on 6th March.
Despite the best efforts of emergency services, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining injuries to the neck and head.
The incident was reported to police by the East Midlands Ambulance Service. The parents were arrested at the scene.
The dog which carried out the attack has been kept in isolation at secure kennels since the incident, and officers will now seek an order to euthanise it.
Lead investigator DC Craig Davey, said: “This has been a profoundly sad investigation for everyone involved in understanding the circumstances around baby Kyra’s death. We have kept an open mind throughout this investigation, which has been lengthy and thorough and involved specialist forensic experts and officers from our Protecting Vulnerable People unit. We have now brought charges against two people, and will continue to work with the CPS as the case makes its way through the justice system.”
They duo will now appear for a hearing at Boston Magistrates’ Court at 11am on Wednesday 9th November.
