23/08/2011 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story tonight. Recruitment problems

in the NHS, the amount it spends on hiring agency doctors rises by 22

The other headlines: Jailed for using Facebook to suggest starting

a riot in Bangor. David Glyn Jones is sentenced to four months.

Michael Lonegan broke his back on holiday. Tonight, his battle to

walk again. Every day has been a bonus, things are improving.

increasing number of family's banking on food handouts to make

ends meet. This is where Aneurin Bevan launched his political career.

Today, Bedwellty House reopens after being saved from ruin at a

cost of �6 million. And it is all smiles now but what will the Rugby

World Cup story before the class of 2011. Good evening. The amount

Welsh health boards spend on hiring agency doctors has risen to 22% in

the last year, despite authorities pledging to save money. Figures

obtained by BBC Wales show �41 million was spent across the seven

Welsh health boards between 2010 and 2011. Our reporter has more.

This is about making sure there are enough doctors to do the work. The

use of some agency staff is inevitable. Doctors fall ill or go

on leave just like the rest of us so gaps in rotas do occur. In some

areas there are problems recruiting staff, especially junior doctors.

On the bottom rung of a very long ladder, a junior's doctors first-

years can shake their career. Is there a misconception that Wales

does not have enough to offer? Those within the system seemed to

think so. The attraction of the big city life that exists in London or

Manchester perhaps does not exist here. We need to be far more

proactive than the Government need to be more proactive in selling

Wales as a place to live and work. There is very high-class training

in Wales and there are probably things you would see here that you

would not see in some of the big cities. The figures obtained by BBC

Wales suggest there is a problem and in some area as it is bigger

than others. Last year, Welsh spending on NHS doctors topped four

to �1 million. Three years ago 6.6 million was spent in one hospital

and in another the rise was from �1.2 million to �5.5 million. These

junior doctors have their own thoughts on the issue. It is a

small hospital sought in general you have as smaller number of

patients so you get a little bit more or opportunity to spend more

time and do things more thoroughly. This was half way down my list of

choices but if I was reapplying it would be my first choice. There is

so much to do here, there is a good support network and a good social

network, I am really enjoying it. The amount spent on agency staff is

coming out of a pot which will shrink in real terms. We have

particular challenges in this area. We have a population of 400,000

people spread over a wide geographical area with four

District type hospitals spread out from the teaching hospitals of

Swansea and Cardiff. It is not cost-effective to use local staff.

It is a better use of money to have salary staff and it is better in

terms of continuity and quality of care for patients. The answer seems

to be Zel Wales and what our health service has to offer. Another

challenge. -- sell Wales. One idea is to offer staff a bonus if they

stay for five years. The BMA points out that there are also down sides

to using agency staff. There does not seem to be any uniform pattern

across Wales, some health boards are clearly finding it much easier

to recruit staff than others. Within the medical profession there

are concerns this problem may get worse before it gets better. A 21

year-old man has become the first person in Wales to be jailed for

inviting people to start a riot on the social networks site Facebook.

It follows unrest across parts of England earlier this month. David

Glyn Jones was sentenced to four months, after he invited people to

riot in Bangor. He pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court after a

former colleague reported him. He told police it was a moment of

stupidity which he regretted. I have been speaking to the BBC's

legal affairs correspondent about the case. David Glyn Jones created

a Facebook event. It or only existed on Facebook for a brief

period of 20 minutes. He wrote on Facebook, let's start Bangor riots.

He put a message under that saying he could not understand why people

were complaining about the riots, he said, given the chance, I would

love to smash up a police car, wouldn't you? He described this as

a moment of stupidity to police. In court he said he did not intend for

people to take it seriously but nevertheless he was prosecuted

under the Communications Act and received a sentence of four months

in prison. Other men were sentenced to four years for a similar act,

are there are discrepancies? have to make sure you are comparing

apples with apples. Mr Jones was prosecuted under the Communications

Act, it is a less serious offence which carries as six-month maximum

prison sentence. The men who were sentenced last week at Chester were

prosecuted under the Serious crime Act for encouraging or assisting a

riot which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. It

is a much more serious the offence. The issue is that people will look

at the facts of this case and looked at the facts of that case.

It is less serious, it was on line for a shorter period, but none the

less, the criminal activity is pretty similar and yet one person

is sentenced to four months and the other two people of similar ages

are sentenced to four years. If you the full facts you have to be

careful before rushing to judgment but I think people will feel that a

group of people involved in similar activity are being prosecuted under

different facts and are receiving different punishments which will be

difficult for the public to understand. Firefighters are

tackling a huge fire tonight at the former Jewson builders' merchants

in Bangor. Crews were called out to the site in Hirael just before 4

o'clock this afternoon. The building was already well alight

with the fire spreading through the roof. The 60 year-old man killed in

the Pill area of Newport has been named as Jerzy Dubiniec. It's

thought he'd recently arrived from Poland. Police believe he may have

been assaulted and then hit by a car. 10 people have been arrested

following his death. A 25 year-old man is still being held on

suspicion of murder. The Metropolitan police say they are

still investigating the death of a Welsh spy in London, exactly one

year after his body was found. M16 officer Gareth Williams from

Anglesey was discovered in a locked bag in the bath at his flat.

Mystery still surrounds his death. No date has been set for an inquest.

A man who broke his neck while on holiday says he's confident he will

walk again. Michael Lonergan from Maesteg was paralysed when he dived

into the sea in Izmir in Turkey. Complications with his insurance

company meant his employers paid tens of thousands of pounds for him

to be brought home for treatment. He has been speaking to our

reporter. Back home in Wales, Michael Lonegan has come a long way

since the accident which changed his life. He was on holiday with

his partner and their two young children when tragedy struck. The

30-year-old former soldier dived into the sea from a jetty as he had

done the previous day but his head hit the bottom and he broke his

neck. He came around unable to move or reprieve. I walk up and could

not move in the water. I was fighting to try and get year

because I was lying face down in the water and I could not move my

neck. I had damaged the ligaments in my next so I was trying to turn

to the right and left to get here. Initially his insurance company

were finding his treatment in hospital but then decided he had

exposed himself to needless risk. Doctors in Turkey told him he would

never walk again. His family still do not know if they will eventually

have to meet the 23,000 pound hospital bill. He was in the best

hospital then suddenly the insurance company pulled the plug

on it. That was very difficult and it was more difficult for his

family who were out there with him. Since the accident Michael has been

undergoing intensive treatment and doctors say his progress has been

remarkable. I still have a lot of weakness in my left side but my

right side is recovering very well. I have full movement in both limbs.

Strength is a bit of an issue. It is definitely not anywhere near

100%. The insurance company said they could not comment on the case

because it is in the hands of lawyers. Still to come. It had

fallen into disrepair but just look at what �6 million can do.

Bedwellty House gets a facelift. And the Welsh club prepare for New

Zealand. I believe that on the day we can beat anyone. I am excited

about this World Cup. We are playing the favourites for the

competition but it is a cup and anything can happen. There has been

a sharp increase in the number of families forced to accept food

handouts just to make ends meet, that is according to the

organisation which runs the Welsh food bank network. It says rising

food prices and public sector cuts have led to thousands of people in

Wales needing emergency aid. These volunteers have spent the morning

packing emergency food parcels. This will not be sent to famine hit

countries in the Third World but given to families in Cardiff. 250

people each month come to this food banks centre because they cannot

It is a shame that somebody is in a position where they cannot buy food

in Wales. Food banks like this one was set up to help people overcome

short-term financial difficulties but as the recession continues,

there has been a rise in the number of people needing these charity

handouts. 13 food plants have opened in Wales and the last three

years and it helped more than 5,000 people. Last month in Ebbw Vale,

there was a 50 % increase in the clients. The Cardiff food bank over

the last two months experienced a 100 % increase compared to the last

financial year. It is not the first time people in Wales have depended

on food parcels to get by. Relief centres like this and helped

countless families during the miners' strike. Public donations

are making the difference between people going hungry and having food

on the table. For Robert, this would ban was a lifeline. -- food

bank. It is only when you get out and have to fend for yourself, that

is when you realise that food is quite expensive. It can get people

into trouble if they are not careful. According to Oxfam, a

court -- around 40 % of people in Wales are going hungry. With 13 new

food banks due to open here over the next three years, food parcels

like these will become more in demand than ever.

It was the place where Aneurin Bevan launched his political career.

Tredegar Town Council Chamber at Bedwellty House has been closed to

the public for years. Today, the Grade Two listed building and its

26 acres of parkland have been re- opened. Tomos Dafydd is there.

It's from this very chair that Aneurin Bevan started his political

career. The council chamber was housed at an ironmaster's mansion

built in 1818. It was in desperate need for repair and restoration and

after a long fight for funding, it's re-opened at a cost of �6

million. It's a Georgian gem. The people of

Tredegar can again enjoy the mansion and its beautiful parks.

For 50 years, the fountain has been empty but it has now been brought

back to life. The bandstand, paid for entirely by local people in

1912, has been quiet for more than half a century. Soon, local brass

bands will entertain again. People would gather here to watch tennis

and croquet. The long shelter was left empty and tired, but it is now

restored. I was born close to here and it was like my back garden.

Very often, we had bands and choirs in the bandstand. All different

types of music. When the park is alive, it is a fantastic place to

be. Service as well as reward must be the inspiration Of Our

nationalised industry. And it was here in the council chamber that

Aneurin Bevan's started out in politics. His fiery and passionate

speeches would reverberate inside the mansion. This place has played

an important part in our personal history and memories and in the

political history of the valleys. This is where Aneurin Bevan made

his first speech and this is where he was first elected. This is where

we had those debates in the early parts of the last century.

Bedwellty House was built in 1818 for Samuel Homfrey, the son-in-law

of Lord Tredegar who founded the Tredegar Iron Company. It was a

lavish and opulent home, in stark contrast to the modest houses of

the local men who worked underground. It saved this whole

park and this wonderful house for the people of Tredegar. The park

has about 30 acres and it has got five listed features within it such

as the long shelter behind us. To see it brought back to its original

splendour is very satisfying. weighing 15 tonnes, a piece of

history, the world's biggest block of coal, mined locally in 1851. Now,

this and other historical artifacts can be enjoyed by the people of

Tredegar. And with the old ballroom transformed in to a Registry Office,

you'll be able to get married at the mansion. So after decades left

dormant, Bedwellty House is entering a new era.

The long shelter behind me of was rebuilt from scratch. They went

back to the original designs from 19 low-rate to build it all again.

We are in the middle of 26 acres of beautiful parkland and they have

had to do a lot of work here because this was overgrown. They

had to remove 180 trees to open this place up and make it more

attractive to visitors. One of the landmarks is the bandstand behind

me. Let's talk to one man who was at the centre of the restoration

project. After a long wait, you must be very happy. The we are. It

is great to be at the end of a long process. A lot of work since you

started back in October 2009. was two work and four years of

getting the money together. What was involved? A huge amount of work

on the house. The entire upper floor of the house was derelict and

the roof had collapsed. There was a lot of work to get the house open

again. Also in the park itself. The ponds and the cascades work all

overgrown. We wanted to open the place up and get people in and have

these views through the park. The Tagus back to 1818. This wonderful

mansion behind you is in stark contrast to the more modest houses

in this area. This is the most wealthiest and powerful man in the

valley in 1818. He was the master of the ironworks and he was saying

he was the most important man and this house went with his status.

Thank you very much for your time. It is back to you in the studio.

A campaigner for the Welsh Language Society, Cymdeithas yr Iaith, has

been sentenced to seven days in prison for breaking into

Conservative Party offices in Cardiff. Jamie Bevan, was

protesting against cuts to the broadcaster S4C. He's previously

refused to wear a tag for damaging the office of Cardiff North MP

Jonathan Evans. The number of deaths involving

clostridium difficile fell by 31% in Wales and England last year, to

just over 2,000, after attempts to reduce levels of hospital bugs. The

infection can be spread by coming into contact with infected patients

or surfaces contaminated with the bacteria.

Five teachers who passed a no confidence motion in their head

teacher at a primary school on Anglesey will return to work in

September. Ann Hughes, the head of Ysgol Goronwy Owen in Benllech,

will remain suspended while an investigation continues. Two local

head teachers will share responsibility for the school from

next month. Rugby, and the Welsh squad got

together at the Millennium Stadium today for the first time since the

final 30 man squad for the World Cup was announced yesterday. The

squad leaves for New Zealand a week tomorrow with their first game

against current world champions South Africa on September 11th. Our

rugby correspondent, Gareth Charles, reports.

Now that the weighted and there were being is over, it was smiles

all round for the 30 who gathered today for the traditional pre-World

Cup squad photo. For some, it has been a welcome phone call. It will

be a great experience. I am already looking forward to it. I was so

excited, I did not sleep last night. My family and friends are calling

me to say well done. I just can't wait. For some, it's an opportunity

which almost passed them by. A huge honour to be selected. It was a

shock and due to injury, I've got an opportunity. But for others it

is a case of been there and done that. Shane Williams is hoping it

is a third time lucky. This is my third World Cup. We got to one

quarter-final. I would love to go to this World Cup and be successful

and win the World Cup. I do believe that on our day we can beat anybody.

Going one better is Stephen Jones who can pass on a word of two of

advice as he strides off an injury to take part in his 4th World Cup.

-- strides off. When you are older, you are aware of the responsibility

you have to be choosy. When you are younger, you are enjoying the

moment. When you are older, you are more aware of what the performance

and the result means. The Wales hope that the mix of experience and

youth cannot provide some lasting World Cup memories. -- can provide.

Football, and both Swansea and Cardiff are in action in the

Carling Cup tonight. In just under an hour, Swansea, who earned their

first point in the Premier League on Saturday, will face Shrewsbury

away from home. The Bluebirds entertain Huddersfield at Cardiff

City Stadium. In the Blue Square Premier, Wrexham

are hoping to continue their unbeaten start to the season at

home to Tamworth tonight. Newport County are also in action,

travelling to Ebbsfleet United. Take a look at this. They're the

ruins of a 2,000-year-old Roman port discovered in Caerleon.

Archaeologists from Cardiff University say the remains on the

bank of the River Usk near Newport are well preserved, and include the

main quay wall and landing stages where ships would have docked.

Let's head back to Tredegar now and A really pleasant end to the day.

For most of us, it turned drier this afternoon and there's been

some evening sunshine. Tomorrow's more a day of sunshine and showers.

But really, we're in for a mixed week. The chart shows low pressure

in the Atlantic driving weather fronts our way, so it'll be fairly

changeable over the next few days. Not a washout, but not particularly

summery. This evening, it's mainly dry inland with some clear spells.

A few coastal showers possible overnight and also in the hills and

mountains. Winds are generally light so some patchy mist is likely.

Not a cold one though, with temperatures staying in double

figures at around 11C to 14C. Tomorrow's a day of sunshine and

showers. A fragmenting front pushing in occasional showers from

the west. Some could be thundery but they'll clear eastwards through

the day. There will be some sunny spells. The best of the brightness

later in the north and west and some rain could arrive in South

East Wales by late afternoon. But there's still some uncertainty

about exactly where it could be further east. Top temperatures, 17C

in Pembrokeshire and up to 20C in Wrexham with a southwesterly breeze.

Thursday's another sunshine and showers day, but probably more

showery than tomorrow. Any showers will be heaviest in the west. Drier

further east, but with fewer sunny spells. A southwesterly breeze and

temperatures in the high teens again. And the outlook is fairly

mixed. Sunny spells, breezy at times, scattered showers and some

could be heavy on Friday. But signs of things turning drier and more

settled into the weekend. Turning drier through Saturday itself.

Still the odd spot of rain but drier in sheltered spots further

drier in sheltered spots further east.

Tonight's headlines from the BBC. The battle for Tripoli is averaging

its climax. Rebel fighters have taken control of Colonel Gadaffi's

Cam punt. There have been celebratory scenes as the fighters

destroyed symbols of the regime. The amount Welsh health boards

spend on or agency doctors is up 22 % in the last year despite a

authorities pledging to save money. Figures obtained by BBC Wales show

�41 million was spent across Wales between 2010 and 2011.

21-year-old David Jones has become the first person in Wales to be

jailed for inviting people to start a riot on Facebook. It follows the

unrest in parts of England. He was sentenced to four months in prison.