ambulance leaders are warning pressures are hitting the nhs in england with patients are put at risk by dangerous delays. the latest figures are out this morning and show a slight improvement in both ambulance response times and waits for accident and emergency care compared to this time last year. there has also been a drop in the patients waiting for routine hospital treatment. there were ambulances backed up outside, two hours in an ambulance. it's been a long night for margaret. are ambulances parked out there today. there are no beds. people on trolleys in the corridors. all night with her was her sister. i didn't sleep so i'm very tired.

waits in a&e here have been as long as 30 hours. the hospital trust reporting a near 70% increase in patients coming in. in the foothills of the lake district, cumberland infirmary is the largest accident and emergency hospital in cumbria but it's not big enough. it's already at capacity. there are no more beds. health bosses are working day and night to try and discharge patients. currently i don't have beds free in hospital and we have patients waiting and that is a concern for us and for patients. we have ambulance weights and so we are doing work to look at how we can maximise the space. how's it going today? it's busy. no beds and not enough doctors, with the hospital increasingly reliant on locums, and operation already been postponed. 19 in the last week.

plan come from a few miles away, a team working on a solution. they are working round the clock to try and stop patients going into hospital in the first place and they are trying to get them out. we try and refer anybody going into hospital to the services that are needed, anything to prevent that admission. across the country there are fears about how the nhs will cope this winter. we are always worried about patient safety, ambulances reaching patient at home who have not yet seen a clinician of the area of greatest risk. that is why we are looking at improving handover times so we can get ambulances back out. with space in hospitals already running out and doctors about to strike, the nhs winter forecast is bleak.

we are waiting on an update on the case of gaynor lorde, a woman who has been missing since friday. we are expecting a police update anytime now. what you are looking at now is our live page on the website, giving you updates as they come and we will keep updating you right now this programme. please do keep checking our website. that update should be coming any moment now. the bank of england has decided to hold interest rates at 5.25%. that is the third time in a row that the bank has kept rates where they are. it is the highest level for 15 years. our economic correspondence reports on what people in liverpool think.

christmas market in liverpool, some are trying their best not to think about the money. the price is a bit high but i think, yeah, christmas, still... can afford to treat myself and my family a little bit. oh, it's tough times, isn't it? but i think at christmas, you've just got to try and splash out and have a good time and enjoy the season. but others have hit a crunch point. i sold my car last week, - thinking the cost of travelling from southport to liverpool, it would be cheaper for me l to go on the train. ijust had my flat repossessed, so it has really affected us. and it is that to do with the interest rate payments just going up? yeah, yeah. if you're going into debt to get through an expensive time of year, it's the bank of england's official interest rate that sets a floor on the minimum interest your lender will charge. until recently, it's repeatedly raised rates to make it more expensive to borrow, to put households and firms off spending too much, which might put up prices even further. but price inflation has dropped now from a peak of more than 11% to less than 5%, not because of government policy but due to cheaper

energy and raw materials and a global economic slowdown. that's encouraged interest rates heads at the bank of england to avoid playing scrooge and keep rates on hold for the third time in a row. this chart shows you the bank of england's official interest rate. you can see on the blue line there, 1a rises since december �*21. and on the red line here, it shows you what the city thinks is going to happen. they are predicting that rates have peaked already at 5.25% and are going to drop in the coming year by up to 1%. people's lifestyle is adjusted around having a cheap mortgage and the problem is, mortgages are not cheap now. yes, next year, hopefully they will be a bit cheaper than what people are paying now but comparatively speaking, it's still going to be very expensive for people. the big decision people are going to be having to make is do they consider may be a two—year fixed rate or do they consider a five—year rate or maybe a two—year tracker. they are the three most popular

types of rates out there. higher interest rates are likely to mean that savings accounts may grow faster than prices for the first time in years, but partly because of the squeeze on borrowers, the bank of england expects the economy as a whole to stay flat in the months to come, making 2020 for a year of stagnation. making 2024 a year of stagnation. much more information about what that news means for you on our website. we have lots of explainer is but also a mortgage calc later so depending on your situation, whether you are a homeowner or a saver, please do check the website to see what that news for you. a new study suggests the decline in smoking in england has stalled since the pandemic. in the years leading up the pandemic. in the years leading up to the covid—19 outbreak, the number of people smoking fell by about 5% per year but between 2020 and 2022, the rate slowed to 0.3%.

the parents of ten—year—old sarah who died at her home in august have pleaded not guilty to her murder. that is a new update in that case. they also pleaded not guilty to a second charge of causing or allowing the death of each child. their brother appeared via video link from belmarsh prison and also pleaded not guilty to both charges. in his first press conference since the invasion to years ago, vladamir putin insisted the war was going well and that russian troops were improving their positions along the front line. 0thertopics improving their positions along the front line. other topics in this choreographed event, that is important to say, range from domestic and economic issues to

technology. when asked about normalising relations with europe, president putin said he was open to the idea but that, i quote, "it's not up to us. it's not up to us, we did not ruin relations. they did that, they've always tried to push us back." he went on to say that: we believe that the united states is a necessary country for the world. however, their absolute imperial policies are hurting them. when something changes, we will see the conditions to establish full relations, but now we see nothing. mr putin said ukraine was being supplied with resources for the war �*for free�* — an apparent reference to western support for kyiv — but predicted it would come to an end. translation: unless they want to come to terms peacefully, we have to take some action, including military action. but today, ukraine virtually produces or manufactures nothing. they have been trying to maintain their manufacturing capability. but, you know, actually,

they have been importing things for free, free loading. but, you know, it will come to an end sooner or later. we are putting sonar equipment in which is quite detailed, to allow divers to go to where we might think there may be objects. the river is full of water and debris in the divers can see about one foot in front of them so it is an extraordinarily challenging. it is slow and methodical at the moment and it will take probably a couple of days to get a position where it may even be longer.— of days to get a position where it may even be longer. what makes you so convinced — may even be longer. what makes you so convinced that _ may even be longer. what makes you

so convinced that she _ may even be longer. what makes you so convinced that she is _ may even be longer. what makes you so convinced that she is in _ may even be longer. what makes you so convinced that she is in the - so convinced that she is in the water? ~ . ., ., , water? we have an open mind, there are a number— water? we have an open mind, there are a number of— water? we have an open mind, there are a number of lines _ water? we have an open mind, there are a number of lines of— water? we have an open mind, there are a number of lines of inquiry - are a number of lines of inquiry that we are pursuing but everything we know is pointing to a hype ability that she went into the water. that would be from the cctv, the very limited witnesses that we have got a viable to us and other lines of inquiry we are pursuing about her behaviour in the lead up to her disappearance. at the moment, the river is a key factor for us. that is not to say that other police teams are not working on other lines of inquiry, as they are, but the intense effort is around this area we saw some of your search teams today across the road, they had left the park and gone to some scrubland near some houses. what the park and gone to some scrubland near some houses.— near some houses. what have you decided to — near some houses. what have you decided to go _ near some houses. what have you decided to go over _ near some houses. what have you decided to go over there? - near some houses. what have you decided to go over there? the - decided to go over there? the specialist _ decided to go over there? the specialist teams _ decided to go over there? tie: specialist teams are here decided to go over there? ti2 specialist teams are here and we are being very thorough so each day we look at what we have undertaken and there are certain areas we would search again depending on what we have found. we want to be absolutely sure that we are missing nothing in

terms of evidence. notjust for gaynor herself but any evidence that may have been lost, we need to be sure we have covered all the ground. he released cct footage yesterday of her leaving work and she looks like she is smiling. then you see her in norwich city centre and she looks like she is in a hurry. what is that telling you, there's also a half hour period where she went into the cathedral grounds. at hour period where she went into the cathedral grounds.— hour period where she went into the cathedral grounds. at the moment, it is tellin: us cathedral grounds. at the moment, it is telling us that _ cathedral grounds. at the moment, it is telling us that she _ cathedral grounds. at the moment, it is telling us that she left _ cathedral grounds. at the moment, it is telling us that she left work - cathedral grounds. at the moment, it is telling us that she left work and - is telling us that she left work and made her way over a period of time to the river where she was seen. nobody has seen her in the water but we know that she ended up in the park. at the moment, there is nothing that the cctv is showing us about who she may have spoken to, any interactions she may have had, it is just the journey that she has had. it is 'ust the “ourney that she has had. 2, , it is 'ust the “ourney that she has had. . , . , it is 'ust the “ourney that she has had. . , ., , , it is 'ust the “ourney that she has had. . , , ., had. has that yielded any lines that ou are had. has that yielded any lines that you are following? _ had. has that yielded any lines that you are following? not _ had. has that yielded any lines that you are following? not at _ had. has that yielded any lines that you are following? not at the - you are following? not at the moment- _ you are following? not at the moment. she _ you are following? not at the moment. she left _ you are following? not at the moment. she left work - you are following? not at the| moment. she left work early, you are following? not at the . moment. she left work early, do you are following? not at the - moment. she left work early, do you

know the reason? _ moment. she left work early, do you know the reason? no. _ moment. she left work early, do you know the reason? no. we _ moment. she left work early, do you know the reason? no. we can't - know the reason? no. we can't exlain know the reason? no. we can't exniain the _ know the reason? no. we can't explain the behaviour— know the reason? no. we can't explain the behaviour but - know the reason? no. we can't explain the behaviour but we i know the reason? no. we can't. explain the behaviour but we are working closely with family and friends and those who have had contact with her in recent days to try to understand why this may have happened. try to understand why this may have ha ened. ~ 2, try to understand why this may have ha ened. ~ . ., try to understand why this may have hauened. ~ ., ., ., , try to understand why this may have ha ened. 2 ., ., ., , ., happened. what have her family and friends said about _ happened. what have her family and friends said about her? _ happened. what have her family and friends said about her? we - happened. what have her family and friends said about her? we are - friends said about her? we are sunporting _ friends said about her? we are sunporting them _ friends said about her? we are supporting them as _ friends said about her? we are supporting them as closely - friends said about her? we are supporting them as closely as | friends said about her? we are i supporting them as closely as we can. people are very shocked about what has happened. nobody has known why she has done this and we will have to work to find out.- have to work to find out. some arallels have to work to find out. some parallels are — have to work to find out. some parallels are being _ have to work to find out. some parallels are being drawn - have to work to find out. some parallels are being drawn to i have to work to find out. some | parallels are being drawn to the tragic case of nicola bulley in like a share. 0ther tragic case of nicola bulley in like a share. other lessons that have been learned from that case that you are now applying to this investigation? in are now applying to this investigation?— are now applying to this investigation? in the case of lancashire. _ investigation? in the case of lancashire, we _ investigation? in the case of lancashire, we will - investigation? in the case of lancashire, we will always i investigation? in the case of. lancashire, we will always learn from jobs that have happened before. in terms of lancashire, we have reached out to them to those investigators and anything we can learn, we will apply, but at the moment, i am learn, we will apply, but at the moment, iam not learn, we will apply, but at the moment, i am not concerned, learn, we will apply, but at the moment, iam not concerned, we learn, we will apply, but at the moment, i am not concerned, we are doing everything we can to progress this inquiry. fire doing everything we can to progress this inuui . �* ,, doing everything we can to progress thisinaui .�* this inquiry. are you in contact with the force _ this inquiry. are you in contact with the force up _ this inquiry. are you in contact with the force up there - this inquiry. are you in contact with the force up there as - this inquiry. are you in contact| with the force up there as mike this inquiry. are you in contact - with the force up there as mike yes, we are. , ., , with the force up there as mike yes, we are. , . , , ., we are. they are helping us and when that case was — we are. they are helping us and when that case was concluded, _

we are. they are helping us and when that case was concluded, the - we are. they are helping us and when that case was concluded, the college | that case was concluded, the college of policing and crime agencies do a lot of work to see what can be learned and applied, may be in terms of search tactics, how the police interact and deal with the public and then we reapply that in our own inquiries. and then we reapply that in our own inuuiries. , , , ., ,, inquiries. this is still a missing ersons inquiries. this is still a missing persons inquiry _ inquiries. this is still a missing persons inquiry what _ inquiries. this is still a missing persons inquiry what is - inquiries. this is still a missing persons inquiry what is your i inquiries. this is still a missing - persons inquiry what is your message to anybody who might have any information about where gaynor is? we have had 30 members of the public come forward so far because of the press we have put out. anybody who has seen anything, however insignificant it may be, to call to the police and see. every piece of information will help. there were several lines from that update from the police. they said she went into the water but that

there is no footage of that from any of the cctv that the police have analysed. they still believe that there was a high probability that she went into the water. they have also issued another public appeal for information, they said 30 members of the public have come forward so far. they have also said that they need to be sure they have covered all potential possibilities and that is why you may have seen pictures and images of police searching land as well as the divers in there, searching the river. that is because they want to make sure they have covered all their bases. he was speaking to the bbc�*s jo black and what the issue is, they are thinking of nicola bulley, that is some of the speculation. he confirmed that they have been speaking to police in lancashire. given some of the similarities in the case, to understand what can be learned from nicola bulley�*s case.

in case you cannot remember, nicola bulley was deemed to be an accidental drowning. the picture you are looking at is of gaynor lord. what police are saying is that nobody right now knows the motivations of her behaviour that day. they have the video, the cctv but they don't know why she did what she did. having said that, they are continuing their investigation and research and making sure they are covering all of their bases. please do check our bbc website because we do check our bbc website because we do have updates as they come in, including a timeline as well as a map of her known whereabouts on the 8th of december, friday, when she started, when she was reported to be missing. much more on their so please do go on that website. a senior nurse who drugged patients for an easy shift,

has been jailed for 7 years 2 months in prison. catherine hudson, who's 5a, worked on the stroke unit at the blackpool victoria hospital when she used an unprescribed drug to sedate 2 patients between february 2017 and november 2018. her colleague, charlotte wilmot, an assistant practitioner was sentenced to 3 years for conspiring with hudson and encouraging her to sedate a patient. 0ur north of england correspondent fiona trott reports. the nurse who showed no compassion. instead, catherine hudson showed contempt. at her trial, the court heard she drugged her elderly stroke patients because she wanted an easy shift. she used sedatives, like this one, zopiclone, which police found at her home. the sleeping pill can be fatal to seriously ill patients. aileen scott was one of the women she drugged. the pensioner was paralysed and relied on hudson for care and support.

aileen's son was in court throughout the trial. yesterday, he spoke directly to hudson and said... whatsapp messages reveal more about what was going on at the unit. hudson said... julie whitfield also has suspicions about the way staff behaved. her partner, david, was treated at the same unit. ijust felt like i was walking on eggshells, speaking with some of the staff. her police complaint did not form part of this case. you sort of asked questions. you felt you were a nuisance. i'd ask how david was doing and the staff would maybe pull a face if he'd been particularly troublesome during the night. what's been striking about this case is that it was a student nurse, who plucked up the courage to report what was going on.

she told the court that hudson suggested giving zopiclone to a restless patient, and when the student nurse pointed out it hadn't been prescribed, hudson turned round and said, "well, that patient has a do not resuscitate order. and so if they died, there wouldn't be an autopsy." she said she then saw hudson take some tablets from her pocket and put them in the pill pot beside the patient�*s bed. "i was really shocked," she said, "and i knew it wasn't right." the blackpool teaching hospitals nhs trust has apologised and said it had made significant improvements in staffing, managing medicine and creating a more respectful culture. another one of its workers, charlotte willmott, was found guilty of conspiring with and encouraging hudson. both are due to be sentenced later today. as britishjews celebrate the final days of hannukah, new figures reveal the number

of antisemitic attacks against them has reached more than 2000 since the attacks on israel on 7th 0ctober ? up from around 300 in the same period last year. our special correspondent lucy manning went to meet a group of young jewish teenagers to hear what life is like for them. singing. the candles of hanukkah symbolise light where there is darkness. as soon as we step out the gates, we feel, i feel victimised. i always have to look over my shoulder. they show hope where there has been death, war and despair. in a way, it's strengthened myjewish identity. never so appropriate for these times for these young british jews. it's made life a lot more scary, going around. at the uk's largestjewish school, they're not immune to the more than 1000% rise in anti—semitic incidents. this is real, this is anti—semitism. i was walking out from school and a group of men screamed

from their windows some anti—semitic comments at us. and how did that leave you feeling? iwas... i felt so uneasy. i felt worried and stressed. my friend's school, - some of the walls were plastered with swastikas. it's just horrifying to see. shockingly, it's led to a change in public displays of theirjudaism. around hanukkah at the moment, we aren't putting our hanukkiahs by the windows, which you're supposed to, because my mum doesn't want other people around to know that we're jewish. my grandma, she used to wear this magen david necklace and we've had to take it away from her — just because we just don't feel safe. everyone here feels connected to israel. two former pupils, jake marlowe and nathanel young, were murdered by hamas on october 7th. it was completely shocking. they were in our shoes, i they were in our position, just a student at this school and now they've... - they've passed awayl because of a conflict. what are your thoughts about the suffering of civilians on the palestinian

side as well as the israeli side? there's a real stigma around — like you're either pro—palestinian or pro—israel, when at the end of the day, you can be both. you can want civilians on both sides to have peace. since october 7th, how do you feel now to be a britishjew? 0n the one hand, we have to kind of hide our identity because obviously there's been a huge rise in anti—semitism. but then, i feel like i almost have a duty to be more proud of who i am. itjust makes you feel proud. we can still come together, we can still celebrate all the good things we have — that we are still standing after all these years. it's hanukkah, the festivall of lights, where it might be dark outside but we can make it light in here _ lucy manning, bbc news. more than 13,000 families have lodged appeals at tribunals this year in order to get the right support for their children — it's a steep rise on previous years. but councils — who provide help for children with special educational needs and disabilities —

may be forced to declare themselves bankrupt because of the soaring cost — that's according to the local government association. 0ur disability affairs correspondent, nikki fox, reports. she will not walk past the school any more because she is terrified. sarah has not been to school for ten months. because she is autistic, she has an educational and health plan, illegal document designed to support young people like sarah but her mum does not agree with what is in it. we apply to the court to get them changed from mainstream into a specialist school.— specialist school. upsetting for sarah, specialist school. upsetting for sarah. just _ specialist school. upsetting for sarah. just to _ specialist school. upsetting for sarah, just to much? - specialist school. upsetting for sarah, just to much? far - specialist school. upsetting for sarah, just to much? far too i specialist school. upsetting for - sarah, just to much? far too much sarah, 'ust to much? far too much for her sarah, just to much? far too much for her to cope _ sarah, just to much? far too much for her to cope with. _ sarah, just to much? far too much for her to cope with. it _ sarah, just to much? far too much for her to cope with. it is _ sarah, just to much? far too much for her to cope with. it is how- sarah, just to much? far too much for her to cope with. it is how to i for her to cope with. it is how to massive impact on her.- massive impact on her. getting ourself massive impact on her. getting yourself ready _ massive impact on her. getting yourself ready for _

massive impact on her. getting yourself ready for school - massive impact on her. getting yourself ready for school is - massive impact on her. getting yourself ready for school is not| massive impact on her. getting i yourself ready for school is not is a. , ., ., ., yourself ready for school is not is a. , . ., ., , yourself ready for school is not is a. he is an amazing boy. he is autistic and _ a. he is an amazing boy. he is autistic and he _ a. he is an amazing boy. he is autistic and he has _ a. he is an amazing boy. he is autistic and he has adhd. - a. he is an amazing boy. he is. autistic and he has adhd. joseph a. he is an amazing boy. he is- autistic and he has adhd. joseph is doinu well autistic and he has adhd. joseph is doing well at _ autistic and he has adhd. joseph is doing well at school _ autistic and he has adhd. joseph is doing well at school because - autistic and he has adhd. joseph is doing well at school because his i autistic and he has adhd. joseph is i doing well at school because his mum fought for and eh cp that reworks for him. but it was a long and computed process. you are an send solicitor... yeah. ..so you know what you're doing. it is very similar to all the mums that i speak to or the clients. totally overwhelmed by the whole process. if you think your child needs more support, if you see your child struggling, the chances are, they do need more support. the local government association says it recognises the rights of families to appeal, but it fears

something needs to be done to support the tribunal system so they can deal with the backlog. harare support the tribunal system so they can deal with the backlog. have you made any friends _ can deal with the backlog. have you made any friends at _ can deal with the backlog. have you made any friends at school, - can deal with the backlog. have you made any friends at school, is - can deal with the backlog. have youj made any friends at school, is there anything that makes you want to go back there or do you absently not want to go back? i back there or do you absently not want to go back?— back there or do you absently not want to go back? i absolutely don't want to go back? i absolutely don't want to go back? i absolutely don't want to no want to go back? i absolutely don't want to go back — want to go back? i absolutely don't want to go back to _ want to go back? i absolutely don't want to go back to school- want to go back? i absolutely don't want to go back to school again. in | want to go back to school again. in the meantime, sarah is in limbo, waiting to find out what your future holds. the department for education acknowledges the system is not ideal and says the vast majority of plans are concluded without the need to go to tribunal. recapping our our breaking news this hour —— cctv footage showing the last known movements of a missing woman in norwich has been released by the police. police divers are executing an underwater search. 55—year—old gaynor lord has not

been seen since friday. police believe it is likely that gaynor may have entered the water, after her clothes and possessions were found nearby. they are hoping that cctv footage will help someone with information to come forward. for many parts of the uk, the weather will slowly be brightening up as we go through the afternoon with some spells of sunshine. just an odd shower here and there. i had one of those near the wrexham area earlier on this morning. cross east anglia in south east england. the tail end of a weather front still bringing a few patches of drizzle. temperatures probably getting little above five or six degrees across parts of east anglia and south east england. but otherwise, the weather turning a bit milder with temperatures reaching double figures in the west. now overnight tonight will have clear skies develop across most areas of the country. it's going to be a cold night and cold enough for a few patches of frost to develop in the countryside. temperatures in the towns and cities, particularly across england and wales, getting close to freezing on into friday's forecast. pressure is building across the uk.

i think there'll still be a lot of cloud across wales and southern parts of england. the best of any sunshine, east and northeast england for scotland will have outbreaks of rain developing, particularly across western areas. temperatures across the north west mild at 12 degrees, but still some of the coolest air hanging on across eastern areas of the country on into the weekend. we've got a weather front that gets stuck across the north west of scotland, bringing some very large rainfall totals to the highlands where we could see up to 175 millimetres of rain building in over the high ground. that could be enough to cause some flooding issues and maybe even one or two landslips in the mountains. 0therwise, we've got south westerly winds across the uk and that will be tending to drag milder air in across our shores through the weekend. however, we'll probably still have extensive low cloud, so mist and fog patches and a bit of drizzle across western areas that lack more persistent rain effects in the highlands. a few breaks in the cloud across eastern areas of england and at times eastern scotland could see some

hazy sunshine as well. but it will feel milder, temperatures around 11 to 13 degrees. now, you might see a bit more in the way of sunshine breaking through the cloud across england and wales on sunday. but the rain, if anything, a bit more extensive across scotland. also the chance of a bit of rain in northern ireland on sunday as well. temperatures could go as high as 13 or 1a degrees, so it continues to be mild. however, the mild weather isn't going to last that much longer because in the week before christmas it is set to turn quite a lot colder. and that's your latest weather. this

0n hold, the european central bank and the bank of england keep interest rates unchanged but the ecb says it affects expects inflation to fall faster than forecast. plus, working near home. could local hubs in towns and suburbs provide a real alternative to the commute? welcome to world business report.

there is a bit of a theme to the programme today because we are looking at the cost of borrowing around the world. we have had two or three key updates in the last 2a hours. the european central bank and the bank of england have decided today to keep interest rates on hold. that follows a similar decision by the us federal reserve yesterday. the ecb says it has also cut its inflation outlook, forecasting that price rises would slow to 2.7% in 2024 and 2.1% in 2025. it has also projected that inflation will fall below the 2% target in 2026. here in the uk the governor of the bank of england put a bit of a dampener on any hopes they may be a uk rate cut anytime soon. it's coming... wait for it.