THE health body which monitors the quality and effectiveness of the NHS has quashed plans which would have resulted in Bassetlaw losing £6.4m in funding.

Labour MP John Mann has hailed the decision as a "victory" for residents who campaigned against the decrease.

The proposal came about through NHS England's plans to move away from a health funding formula weighted for deprivation to one based on age.

Mr Mann said: "This is a real victory for the residents of Bassetlaw. I would like to thank all those who e-mailed and wrote letters to Sir David Nicholson calling on him to not cut funding to some of the places that need it the most – including our own area.

"Health professionals and patients who joined the campaign are to be congratulated for a stunning and crucial victory.

"The funding for each person in Bassetlaw would have been cut by £99 – the area would have lost £149m.

"Senior Conservatives were set to increase health budgets in the South to the tune of £283m at the expense of the North.

"We need to be vigilant to make sure this government does not try to rob our local health service again."

A Notts care home has been told to improve after health inspectors found that patients were not being given their prescribed medications.

One patient at Churchfields, Millers Court, in Hartley Road, Radford, had not been given medication for 13 days, Care Quality Commission inspectors found.

The commission reported that arrangements at the home did not always ensure that medicines were available to give to people.

A report said: "We found that 10 people had not been given their prescribed medicines because they had not been obtained. One person had not been given four of their prescribed medicines.

"The medicines had been ordered from the pharmacy but they had not been delivered.

"A second person had not had their prescribed medicine available for 13 days. This means that people were at an increased risk of harm."

A spokesman for the home said: "The warning notice issued to Churchfields relates to medication errors identified in October. We quickly implemented an action plan to resolve these issues, reviewing our processes and retraining staff.

"A further review has since been undertaken by CQC and the home was deemed to be fully compliant in medicines management."

THE Police and Crime Commissioner and the Notts Police Chief Constable have both rejected criticism of a poem which a campaign group said trivialised rape.

The poem, posted on the Notts Police website, was based on the accounts of victims and attackers and was designed to raise awareness of the crime.

But Cathy Saunders, from the Nottingham branch of Women's Aid, said last week the poem was a disgrace and should be withdrawn.

Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping said: "It has attracted a lot of high-profile publicity – I welcome it.

"I don't accept criticism that it was a negative campaign.

"For far too long we have had victims having crimes like this as the scourge of their lives."

Chief Constable Chris Eyre added: "If anyone was caused offence I apologise – but if one less woman suffers abuse then it will have been worthwhile. It's about putting the message out there.

"It's a message I see all too often when I wake in the morning and look at my (police issue) Blackberry and see reports coming in from officers of another woman who has been violated."

The poem, called the Nightmare Before Christmas, includes the lines: "She had been attacked but wasn't sure how or where."

POLICE are asking the public for help to trace two potential witnesses to the murder of a Mansfield man.

Officers are asking if anyone saw two women in their 40s, who were under the influence of alcohol, in Ladybrook Place over the weekend of Friday 6 to Monday 9 December.

Mr Blankert, 48, died on Friday evening, December 13 five days after going to King's Mill Hospital.

A Home Office post-mortem examination confirmed he suffered serious injuries as a result of a sustained assault.

Police are continuing house to house enquiries in the Ladybrook area to gather further information.

A 48-year-old woman has been arrested. A 27-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man who were arrested last week remain on bail.

If you have any information call the incident room on 01623 483118 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

THERE are 145 people in Notts waiting for a transplant this festive season.

More than 40 residents in the county have died in the last five years due to the shortage of organs.

NHS Blood and Transplant has highlighted the figures.

Anthony Clarkson, acting director of organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We know that Christmas is a time for enjoying ourselves and talking about the nice things in life like future holidays. But for people in need of an organ, Christmas is a very difficult time so we are urging everybody to talk about organ donation.

"Fifty-seven people in Nottinghamshire have received a life-saving organ transplant from a deceased donor this year."

To join the NHS Organ Donor Register, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 123 23 23.

SCHOOLS across the county are in desperate need of governors says Notts County Council.

There are 509 governor vacancies in Nottinghamshire schools with Broxtowe, Ashfield, Bassetlaw and Mansfield above the national average.

Vacancies exist in parent, community, foundation and local authority posts and a recruitment campaign is now underway.

The council's Governor Services Manager Leonie Meikle said: "A school runs well when it has an effective and pro-active governing body which means getting the right mix of skills and abilities within the governing body.

"Good governance is vital to a school's performance, attainment levels and general achievements."

No formal qualifications are necessary. For more information contact Jane Mansell: 0115 8546054 or jane.mansell@nottscc.gov.uk.

MOTORISTS have been warned to expect delays in Ravenshead today while repairs to an electrical fault take place.

Four-way traffic signals will be in place at the junction of Nottingham Road, Mansfield Road, Main Road and Kirkby Road from 7am while repairs are carried out for electricity provider Western Power Distribution. Temporary lane closures will also be in operation in Kirkby Road and Mansfield Road.

The restrictions will be in place until Sunday evening.

THE owners of the Victoria Centre and Broadmarsh may be asked to help fund some city bus services.

The alternative funding plans were revealed after residents raised concerns over a lack of off-peak bus services to the City Hospital.

Councillors on an area committee for Clifton and the Bridge Ward, which represents The Meadows and the area around Trent Bridge, have been seeking better off-peak public transport services to assist elderly and disabled residents since last year.

Currently a daytime service, the LocalLink 53, provided by Nottingham City Transport from Clifton to Arnold via the QMC and City Hospital, provides a peak but not off-peak service.

Nottingham City Council's executive board has said the 53 service is expensive to run and that it is one of very few services that Nottingham City Transport runs from district to non-city centre locations across Notts.

At evenings and weekends, residents travelling by bus to the hospital have to take a Navy Line service from Clifton to the city centre, alighting to a Yellow or Brown service.

These bus stops are located on Milton Street.

To do this requires departing at Beastmarket Hill and walking to Milton Street or departing at Carrington Street, then taking a Green Loop city centre bus to the Victoria Centre in nearby Milton Street.

Centrelink, run by Trent Barton, provides a similar service to Green Loop.

The city council has said government cuts mean it cannot at this time provide subsidies to either Nottingham City Transport or other companies to help increase the amount of buses transporting people on the Green Loop or Centrelink services.

However, it has said it is seeking funding from shopping centre owners intu to lay on more off-peak Centrelink services between the Victoria Centre and Broadmarsh.

This would make it easier for Clifton residents to travel between bus stops during off-peak hours. It would also offer more services for shoppers to get around the city.

A city council spokesman said: "The current government cuts to Nottingham mean that the council does not have any additional funding to put to Link buses and, therefore, is unable to extend the hours of Centrelink operation in the short term.

"Funding is currently being sought from intu to improve the Centrelink service at off-peak times as part of the shopping centre development proposals."

Ian Malcolm, councillor for Clifton South Ward, said he welcomed the possibility of intu helping out but that more needed to be done to improve bus connectivity for residents.

He said: "It will help but we still need to bring bus services closer together."

Councillor Malcolm said that he and his committee will continue to work with the city council for improvements in the future.

Passenger Carole Dawkins, 53, of Barbury Drive, Clifton, who has to visit the city hospital regularly, said: "Walking too much hurts me. There should be more funding for these services. Perhaps they can get some kind of sponsorship."

The Post contacted intu who said they were yet to receive a formal approach from the council.

THE Downtown Abbey bug seems to have well and truly bitten Nottingham with more people than ever researching their family histories.

Experts in particular have been inundated with people wanting to find out about relatives who worked for the Savile household at Rufford Abbey during the 1800s and 1900s.

Notts County Council has received inquiries about footmen, maids and even a gamekeeper who were employed at the once stately home.

Although Savile house is now a ruin the country park attracts more than 400,000 visitors a year.

Councillor John Knight, Committee Chairman for Culture at Nottinghamshire County Council said: "I'm pleased that ancestral tourism is becoming increasingly popular at Rufford Abbey Country Park, as the place has such a fascinating history.

"With Downton Abbey on our screens again this festive season, there's huge interest in this period of history."

For those interested in finding out about relatives who may have worked for the Savile family, the council's archives service holds a lot of material relating to Rufford Abbey.

AN ELDERLY man has been taken to hospital after a collision with a police car.

It happened just before 2.30pm yesterday in Green Lane at the junction with the A453 in Clifton.

The 95-year-old driver of a Vauxhall Corsa was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre for treatment after the collision with a police car.

No one else was injured in the crash.

The outbound lane of Green Lane was closed as the scene was examined and the carriageway cleared.

Anyone who saw the collision or has any information should contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A WOMAN was taken to hospital after a car in which she was travelling crashed into a ditch.

Emergency services were called at around 5pm yesterday after the vehicle left the road on Bank Hill, Woodborough.

Fire crews from Arnold and Carlton attended the scene.

The woman was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Details about her condition have not been released.

A BURGER van toppled over, leaving its owner up to £1,000 out of pocket.

Tim Carr, of Tim's Kitchen, claims that potholes on his daily six-mile route from his home in Arnold to a lay-by in Burton Joyce had caused a wheel to buckle, making the trailer tip onto its side.

The incident happened on Thackeray's Lane, Arnold, at 6.15am yesterday morning.

Mr Carr thanked helpers from Gedling Borough Council's parks teams for helping him get the vehicle off the road before breakdown services arrived.

"I hit a bump somewhere and it flipped over causing massive damage to the interior of the van," he said.

Mr Carr hopes to be back at his usual spot at the side of the A612 by Friday.

"I just feel like I've let down my customers," added Tim. "I have regulars who stop every day."

THE NUMBER of ambulances queuing up at the Queen's Medical Centre have been up to eight times the national average.

This week, the figures fell to around four-and-a-half times the national average of 31 when 174 ambulances were queuing at the hospital.

An ambulance is considered to be in a queue when it has been waiting for more than 30 minutes to transfer a patient into hospital.

The QMC saw just 91.3 per cent of patients within four hours in the first week – 3.7 per cent below the national target.

Last week, the number of people waiting for more than four hours to be admitted fell from 481 to 277, but remains 154 above the national average.

Nottingham East MP Chris Leslie said the increase in A&E waiting times has been caused by cuts to social care budgets, meaning more older people are being admitted to hospital.

He said: "I pay tribute to the staff at QMC who are doing a hard job in difficult circumstances. However, it is clear patients and hospitals are paying the price for mismanagement of the NHS."

POLICE are appealing for information after industrial equipment was stolen from a vehicle in Heanor.

On Monday, December 2, at 8.45am a white Mercedes Benz Sprinter van in Loscoe Road was left insecure while equipment was being unloaded.

A car pulled up and the driver got out and stole a blue industrial dryer from the van, loaded it into the car and drove off.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Andrew Brooks at Ripley police station using the 101 non-emergency number.

A DETENTION officer at a police custody suite who failed to supervise a prisoner properly has been dismissed.

The 28-year-old man, who worked at the Bridewell in Nottingham, was dismissed after he was found guilty of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing in September.

He had appealed the decision to dismiss him but the original decision was upheld.

An investigation was launched after he was reported to have been using his personal mobile phone while working when he was supposed to be supervising a vulnerable prisoner. While he was distracted, the prisoner self harmed, requiring hospital treatment.

THE first step towards city bars and clubs paying a fee towards crime prevention at night has been taken.

From Monday, January 13, businesses that serve alcohol after midnight will be asked if they want to pay up to £4,440, depending on venue size, as part of a proposed Nottingham City Council late-night levy.

If the charge is given the go-ahead, 70 per cent of the money will go to the police for more officers and 30 per cent to provide three night-time community protection officers.

Joanne Cox-Brown, chief executive of the Malt Cross, in St James's Street, said: "They have been talking about this for a while now and we are really opposed to it. We already pay our rates and work closely with the police and the council.

"We have been open ten years and never had any trouble so why should we pay more?

"If it comes to it, we will close our doors an hour early to avoid the levy."

Nottinghamshire Police estimate that policing and other arrangements to reduce and prevent alcohol-related crime and disorder between midnight and 6am in the city currently costs more than £1.5m a year.

The levy could raise around £300,000 a year towards these costs and improve police potection at night. But some people believe the charge would be passed on to the customer.

Student Charlotte McCann, 19, of Lenton said: "I think the bars would increase the price of drinks and entry to cover costs and some of them are already rather pricey.

"However, I think that policing in the evenings should be increased because I don't always feel particularly safe if I am not out in a group. I would rather spend a bit more and feel safer."

If the levy goes ahead, it will start from October 1 next year.

But some businesses – such as hotels, theatres, cinemas, bingo halls, sports clubs and community centres – would be exempt.

Student Sophie Cummins, 19, of Lenton said: "I feel safe but extra policing would always be welcome.

"However, I think it would be bad for bars because people rely on pre-drinking as it is and would do even more so if the cost was to rise."

The 12-week consultation also includes an option for business to get a 30 per cent discount by signing up to Nottingham Business Improvement District.

A licensing committee meeting yesterday decided to launch the consultation. Councillor Mohammed Ibrahim said: "There are some serious problems in the city and it is about time we do something.

"I think all those that are doing serious business in the city should pay.

"I think we should have a consultation so people can express their opinions over the proposal."

THE city council says the levy could vary from £299 to £4,440 a year, depending on the venues' rateable value and the extent to which they rely on alcohol sales.

Band A: Businesses with no rateable value up to £4,300 would pay an annual charge of £299.

Band B: Businesses with a rateable value of £4,301-£33,000 would pay £768.

Band C: Businesses with a rateable value of £33,001-£87,000 would pay £1,259.

Band D: Businesses with a rateable value of £87,001-£125,000 would pay £1,365.

Band E: Businesses with a rateable value of £125,001 and above would pay £1,493.

Band D x 2: Premises in category D that primarily or exclusively sell alcohol would pay £2,730.

Band E x 3: Premises in category E that primarily or exclusively sell alcohol would pay of £4,440.

The multiplier in Bands D and E is intended to ensure larger clubs and bars make a higher contribution.

JEFF Allen, chairman of the Nottingham BID, said: "It is extremely regrettable that the city council has taken the decision to go out to consultation on a Late Night Levy when other councils such as Leeds City Council have recognised that this is an ill-conceived way of tackling late night issues. Their argument is that it is inflexible as it is a blanket levy payable by all relevant businesses across the entire council area and is unfair to those that operate responsibly. Their preference is to work with appropriate partners such as the members of a BID which operates in the night-time economy – the Nottingham BID is quoted as a specific example – to develop and enhance voluntary initiatives to tackle the issues.

"The BID is totally against the introduction of the Late Night Levy and our members have grave concerns about its impact on the night-time economy and their businesses.

"Reference has been made to the possibility of a 30 per cent reduction which the council may, but does not have to, allow for BID members. We do not believe that the discretionary reduction would provide a meaningful benefit. Given the impact that the BID has had on improving the night-time economy in Nottingham over the past few years, only a full exemption would be appropriate.

"The regulations published by the Home Office relating to a Late Night Levy do provide a discretion for a licensing authority – in the case of Nottingham, this would be the city council – to offer an exemption from the levy for premises in a BID that operates in the night-time economy and has a satisfactory crime and disorder focus, which is precisely the case in Nottingham."

WALKABOUT, FRIAR LANE: The charge will affect us but, to be honest, it will affect smaller bars and clubs more.

We close at 4am, so a large proportion of our business is done after 12. I don't think the charge is enough to put people off the late-night trade.

Ultimately, we're opposed to it but it might happen, so there's not much we can do about it.

THE APPROACH, FRIAR LANE: We're a local fairly small business, we don't get any trouble and we attract an older clientele. On a Friday and Saturday, we take a lot of money after midnight, so we can't afford to close earlier. It's harsh because we pay a fee for BID, so we shouldn't have to pay more. If smaller chains start to close earlier, bigger chains that can afford it will benefit more and people on the street will cause just as much trouble.

THE GATEHOUSE, TOLLHOUSE HILL: In the week, we close around 11pm but on Fridays and Saturdays, we close about 1am.

If the fee came in, I think we would look to change our licence.

We don't have to have bouncers and we have had no interaction with the police.

The charge would be of no benefit to the pub.

The money could be used on policing in the daytime as well, so how do we know it will do what it says?

THE LIVING ROOM, HIGH PAVEMENT: We're operating in a nice part of town, so we rarely have any hassle anyway and on the rare occasion we do, our door staff can deal with it.

We're a franchise, so I imagine it wouldn't be us putting up the money anyway.

ONE hundred years after he died on the battlefield, the body of a Nottingham soldier killed in France has been identified.

Private John Richmond was one of ten soldiers serving with 2nd Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment whose remains were found by construction workers and have now been identified.

They gave their lives near the French village of Beaucamps-Ligny on October 18, 1914, the year the First World War began.

Great-nephew Barrie Richmond, 76, of Ravenshead, was told on Wednesday that his DNA matched his great-uncle John's. "It's humbling because we didn't even know about him," said Barrie.

"My grandfather never talked about him. Perhaps it was because the experience was so traumatic. It was just complete chance that this happened."

Barrie's sister Joan Jones, 80, of Carlton, began researching their family tree two years ago and, to her surprise, found John. She contacted the Ministry of Defence to try to learn more and Barrie gave a DNA sample last year.

"We've been inspired to find out more and more ever since. It's incredible to learn about a member of family we never knew existed," added Barrie.

The seventh of eight children, John Richmond was born in 1885 in Radford and enlisted in the Army in 1904.

After three years serving in India, he returned to Nottingham, where he married Ellen Hopewell and worked as a tailor.

"A lot of our family worked in the lace industry," said Barrie.

"So from seeing tailor on the wedding certificate, we assume he was a lace-maker as well."

His regiment was posted to France in August 1914 – the same month Britain declared war. John died months later.

"It's supposed to be one of the first major battles in the war," Barrie said. "Because of the situation, they just sent them out there. He could have been one of the first people to begin digging trenches.

"A lot of people in the regiment lost their lives but they held the line, causing 300 German casualties, and that line was held until 1918."

The family had one other serving member in the First World War – John's brother Miles, but he saw little action after being sent home with water on the knee caused by a game of football.

"This gives generations of our family – and generations to come – a tangible connection to the First World War," said Barrie. "It's just incredible to find this out now and it makes it extra special, with this year being the centenary."

Private John Richmond will now be buried at Y Farm Military Cemetery in Bois-Grenier. Barrie and other family members are hoping to make the trip to Nord in northern France to see the ceremony on October 22.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission found 15 bodies in 2009 and announced yesterday that it had identified 10.

Commodore Ian Bisson, of the Ministry of Defence's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, which identified the soldiers, said: "The team have identified far more of the fallen than we first hoped.

"We can still identify some of the remaining five sets of remains and would appeal to those who think they may be family members to get in touch with us."

Defence Minister Lord Astor of Hever added: "Although these soldiers fell almost a century ago, the Ministry of Defence still takes its responsibility extremely seriously to identify any remains found, trace and inform surviving relatives and to provide a fitting and dignified funeral so they rest in peace."

Did you know anything about John Richmond or his family? E-mail us at newsdesk@nottinghampost.com.

Don't miss Tuesday's Post for more First World War stories.

JULIAN Darby believes Nottingham Forest can give the entire city a lift by doing the double over Derby County.

The Reds coach knows a win over the Rams would put the spark back into their play-off push.

And he believes the importance of today's fixture stretches beyond that.

Having claimed a 1-0 win over the Rams back in September, Darby believes beating Derby again would provide a massive boost to everyone of a red persuasion.

"It would be fantastic to get that double over them again. It would boost the morale of everyone around, not just at the club, but also within the city, among the supporters and everyone else," Darby told the club website.

"Everyone would get a lift from it so, fingers crossed, we can do it.

"If you go into the canteen (at the training ground), there is a mural from the game on the wall.

"It is of the 5-2 game (in 2010) and, whenever you see it, you think that was a great night, something special.

"We did the league double over Derby in 2010/11 and it would be great to do it again."

Darby accepts that it could be a nervy occasion at the iPro Stadium.

But he says the Forest players need to feed off their emotions.

"Passionate, aggressive, rough and tumble – these are the games you want to play in," he said.

"When the fixtures come out, you look for who you have got first, then you look for your local rivals, home and away.

"You prepare in the same way as you do normally. The excitement builds.

"You get butterflies a little bit, but I always found I did better when you had that feeling.

"It is Thursday when you start to feel that things are getting important, when you start to work on the tactics.

"Then on the Friday, the build up really starts."

Darby says the focus from the management team will be to keep the players composed.

"The concentration has to be bang on," he said.

"But the excitement will be there from the moment you get up in the morning.

"Stay calm, don't do anything stupid. Concentrate in the first 20 minutes when everything is 100mph."

NOTTS TV is coming to a television near you, with a launch date confirmed for Tuesday, May 27.

The new TV station dedicated to all things Nottingham will bring you news, sport and weather every day, focusing on the areas you live in, as well as a variety of other shows, from gardening slots to property programmes.

It will also take advantage of all the homegrown talent from the city and surrounding areas, with Bafta award-winning actress Vicky McClure, film director Shane Meadows and Brit nominee Jake Bugg already signed up to a variety of projects.

People will be able to watch the new station from 4pm on launch day on Freeview Channel 8 – after re-tuning their Freeview box.

James Brindle, the channel director of Notts TV, said the station was a chance for Nottingham to get the platform it deserves as an influential city, both in the region and the UK.

"There is genuinely a massive aspiration and ambition to create a station in Nottingham of the scale we haven't seen since the Carlton TV heyday," he said.

A number of presenters have put their names on the new venture, including BBC favourites Frances Finn and Becky Sheeran.

Becky said: "I am from Nottingham and have always been proud of that. This project is a chance to support the city, support local people and bring issues to the forefront that are not always covered by larger news organisations.

"It is going to be different and diverse, but something that the people of Nottingham can relate to."

Mr Brindle said he was keen for the channel to give a voice to local people, as well as work opportunities.

"There will be a ton of ways to get involved once Notts TV is up and running," he said. "By being part of our current affairs programmes with debates and panels, you can have your say and hold people to account.

"But also we will be looking for creative people based in the city to get involved, from anyone with an idea that we can work with to make it a reality through to established writers and producers."

Notts TV will give opportunities to students who want to get involved in broadcasting as its newsroom will be based within Nottingham Trent University's Centre for Broadcasting and Journalism (CBJ).

Carol Fleming, director of the CBJ, said the station was "a fabulous opportunity" for students across the university, not just because of the experience but also in terms of preparation for the world of work.

"All students across Nottingham Trent University will be able to become involved, from making programmes to set design or even marketing," she said.

"It is going to be such a boost for their futures, being able to show employers what they can do in a real news environment working alongside professionals.

"We have always known our students have talent but this will showcase better than ever and take our students to another level when it comes to competing against students from other universities for jobs."

As well as the Nottingham Trent University base, Notts TV will also operate out of Confetti Media Group's Antenna building in Beck Street and work alongside their partners – the Nottingham Post and Inclusive Digital.

Are you excited about the Notts TV launch? Email opinion@nottinghampost.com.