23/12/2011 BBC Wales Today

A warning from the boss of the NHS - patient safety could be

compromised and less controversial hospital reforms go ahead.

At the moment, our services are safe. They are under pressure and

if we do nothing then the situation into a three years could be one we

Aamir Siddiqi was stabbed to death on his doorstep. The jury is

discharged on his murder trial. A professional ballet dancer speaks

about he is -- about how he is rebuilding his life after being

attacked on a night out. And we look to Scotland to see if

the diabetes system there could benefit patients in Wales.

Messages from the front line - how the RAF is using the Internet to

bring families together this Christmas.

And training to defend his title - he leads the field at this year's

Welsh National. The head of the health service has

told BBC Wales that patient safety is under threat unless

controversial hospital reforms are driven through. In his first

interview since becoming Chief Executive, David Sissling denied

cutbacks were behind the reorganisation. He could see some

services moved were downgraded. He spoke to us earlier.

Every bed in every ward, every brick and every building - they all

come under the control of one man in Wales. This is him - top civil

servants rarely step into the media spotlight but David Sissling knows

he has his work cut out convincing people that Welsh hospitals have to

be reorganised. He says that safety is on the line. Our services are

safe at the moment but they are under pressure and if we do nothing

then the situation in two, three, four years might be when we come to

regret. So if changes are not made, safety could be compromised? Safety

could be compromised. That is why we are trying to take the trouble

to set out those pressures. Money, or lack of it, is a big driver to,

isn't it? -- is a big driver, too, isn't it? Yes, but there are issues

of quality and safety. Not so long ago, some of those local

populations rose up and rejected plans to close centralised services.

In 2012, every health board and Wales is expected to put forward

new modernisation proposals. That would make some services more local

and move others further away. In West Wales, they are already having

to grapple with some of those difficult decisions. They have

announced they are making changes to emergency care, cancer care.

They say that, at the moment things are not just safe and sustainable.

The health board describes some of the services as very fragile,

failing to meet clinical guidelines. Their safety is already under

threat. At the moment, we are spreading ourselves thinly in terms

of costs. We want to develop services that are one hospital

across for hospital site. At the moment, the doctors are and buses

work very carefully to mitigate any risks but it is difficult across

for hospital sites. One of those hospitals could have its accident

and emergency downgraded. Campaigners are not convinced by

arguments over safety - they think it is down to cutting costs. How on

Earth can a service become unsafe one day and yet be saved the day

before? It is an attempt to make it unsafe so that it can be moved.

This has been done by set -- by stealth. Finding solutions which

suit everyone will be an impossible task. Health boards say that people

will genuinely part of this decision making process.

The jury in the trial of two men accused of killing a teenager on

his door she doorstep has been discharged. Ben Hope and Jason

Richards denied murdering Aamir Siddiqi and attempting to murder

his parents at their home in Cardiff.

Aamir Siddiqi was stabbed to death on the doorstep of his home in

Cardiff last year. He had gone to answer the door. His mother and

father were also at home. They too were attacked. Ben Hope and Jason

Richards were on trial for the murder of the 17-year-old and the

attempted murder of his parents. They both denied the charges. The

jury has been discharged for legal reasons. South Wales police say the

prosecution will focus on preparing for the retrial and that the force

will continue to support Aamir Siddiqi's family. Int hearing will

take place in February. A former police inspector has been

jailed after being found guilty of conspiring to help others sex abuse

children. Geraint Lloyd Evans was sacked by the force in September.

Four people have been released on bail -- three people have been

released on bail after a farmer was shot in the leg near Gwynedd. Two

guns were stolen as well as cash and jewellery.

And you eat factory making car park is to open in Wrexham, creating

really 50 jobs. -- and new factory., UK has won a contract to supply

Vauxhall and is expanding his business.

These are the first signs of better things to come. Staff will be

working over Christmas to get things ready. It is great news for

Wrexham and the surrounding and b are bucking the trend, considering

the current economic climate. It is a merry Christmas for everybody. A

bright future for Brett -- for Wrexham and Cobra UK. It is

producing everything from sun visors to floors. If you find

yourself driving a Vauxhall and the next few years, there is a good

chance that parts of it will have been made here. They already make

parts for Volvo and Audi. The name on the side may be new but this

factory has made car-parts before. Until four years ago, it was run by

a German film, which moved to Hungary and Romania. -- a German

company. The new factory has had money from the Welsh government to

help it open. Cobra uk says some staff may transfer from Welsh pool.

It is hoping to create more jobs in Wrexham in the near future.

And it is the biggest event on the racing calendar for Wales - the

Welsh National. Nicola Smith reports. We at

Christmas they did not believe would happen.

A man has been charged with an attack on Jack Widdowson. He is now

back on his feet. He feared he would not walk again. I could see

her I had lost my strength. I had to iron out all the bad habit I

used to have and I was dancing. is really important that you

concentrate on your core stability. His father is the head of sports

medicine at Bath Rugby. It is an extraordinary recovery, from the

first couple of weeks to where we are now. We will have a great

Christmas. There is no doubt about that. There are still many long

hours of physiotherapy ahead but he is more determined than ever to

achieve his dream of being a top ballet dancer. I have realised how

much I want it and I will not just let an injury get in the way.

There are claims that Wales is following -- of falling behind in

the management of diabetes. It is because we do not have a computer

system to link doctors and medical records. Scotland, which has had

the system for years, has offered it to Wales for nothing. We report

on the situation north of the border and neck report on his own

battle with diabetes. -- make reports.

Before I was diagnosed with diabetes I was ignorant about the

condition. But over the last six months, I have learned that diet

and exercise can help manage the disease, a disease that is growing

at an alarming level here in Wales. More than 160,000 people have been

diagnosed with tied 1 and type 2 diabetes. The worrying trend is

that these figures are rising annually. This year, there were

more than 7,000 cases compared to last year. 20 new people get

diagnosed with the condition every single day. Despite the trend, many

working within the field of diabetes say we are not tackling it

as well as our near neighbours. Scotland has what people are

calling a diabetes epidemic. Unlike Wales, there is a far more co-

ordinated response to tackling it. We can link information from all

the GPs' surgeries in Scotland with the database, so that we can have

one record for the patience. simple but of these ideas that has

been hugely successful and popular with patients. Ross was diagnosed

with diabetes more than a decade ago. He has be able to manage his

condition far more successfully than any Welsh patient. Self-

managed and with diabetes is so important. Anyone with diabetes

will recognise the phrase, but pressure, cholesterol, ie screening,

all those measurements are on those schemes on the Internet.

Scottish Care Information Diabetes Collaboration is the envy of health

professionals and male -- in Wales. People from Scotland are offering

to come to Wales and talk about Scottish Care Information Diabetes

Collaboration. Do not lift the death up -- do not look the gift

horse in the mouth. We should be taking up Scotland's offer. We are

looking at the Scottish system to see if it could be beneficial to

patients in Wales. When that recommendation is made it is

something I will decide. It is important that people know that

they could change their lifestyle I vowed to quit the life of the

couch potato - exercise more, and eat more healthily. So has the

regime paid off? Just over six months ago, I weighed just over 17

stone. At Les see how much I weigh. That is almost one stone and a. --

and a half. But it's not just about weight. When I visited the doctor

six months ago my blood tests showed glucose levels that were

relatively high - it's this HBA 1C level that indicates how well i'm

managing my diabetes, so, its back to my GP. It is six now. That is

brilliant. Is that in the normal range? It is in the normal range.

Are likely to keep it as that. Do your exercises, follow routine. It

has made a future difference. -- a huge difference. Dr Katie Thirlaway

of the All Wales Diabetes forum has been my mentor and support during

his process - which began back in the summer, six months on, what's

her verdict? If you were to lose some or again, you would see other

benefits. I would like to see a sustained his weight loss. If you

were to lose a little bit more, at the same sort of pace, that would

be beneficial. Not too quick. blood glucose level has come down

as well. That is what you are aiming at. You are changing your

lifestyle, taking more exercise. Eat more of a tree -- eat more

moderate food. So, the healthier food, coupled with exercise does

seem to have paid dividends. Six months ago I vowed to kick out the

curry and chips and say no to the naan, but it's easier said than

done. I can't pretend I had become a salad Mon Cher. I do still get

cravings for fatty food. But now, chips are an occasional treat. With

the blood glucose levels now in the normal range my type two diabetes

has been controlled, but only while I stick to this healthier lifestyle.

Time for the sport now. Christmas is supposed to be a time

of peace and goodwill to all men. But I wonder how much of that

there'll be on show at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight as the Blues

face the Dragons in the first of four rugby derbies over the festive

period. Gavin Henson is due to make his debut for the Blues this

evening. Then on Boxing Day, the clash between the Scarlets and the

Ospreys is a sell-out. The Scarlets then travel to Rodney Parade for

the last game of 2011 - before the Ospreys and the Blues bring in the

New Year on the first day of 2012. But it all starts at the Cardiff

City Stadium tonight. Former Wales fly-half Gareth Davies is

commentating for the BBC at tonight's match. Good evening

Gareth. It has been a bleak few weeks for the Welsh region. How

important is it that the teams put on a real adverts for Welsh rugby

tonight? The season always seems to be kicked -- seems to economy had

the derbies. Fans want to see local derbies. Not too much goodwill on

display. This season has been very anti-climactic. After the World Cup,

things have not developed. It is important that the Welsh public

will want to see these matches. Inevitably, a lot of the talk will

be about Gavin Henson, making his debut for the Blues. Is this a good

game for him to make his comeback? He likes a big stage. It is the

return of the prodigal son. He is a hugely talented individual, he has

not the build that talent. I think it is an exciting time for him. You

could argue it is perhaps his last opportunity. There is not a more

testing arena than a local derby. Cardiff Blues playing the Newport

Gwent Dragons should be testing. has been an interesting week. The

salary cap, is that a good idea? am not sure. I think the outcome is

pretty obvious. The important thing for me is the fact that the Welsh

Rugby Union, and the regions, they are talking. There are competitive

elements, bigger budgets, the French teams. Perhaps they need to

work on the marketing side of the game. Irrespective of the Wales

play -- of Poole Wales play, they need to take into account the

regional teams. You need fans to turn up and support their local

regions. Thank you very much. The match is live on S4C and Radio

Wales. Kick-off at 7.35. Welsh racing will enjoy its biggest

week of the year over Christmas. A bumper crowd is expected at Ffos

Las in Carmarthenshire on Monday for their Boxing Day meeting. And

the following day, it's the Welsh National at Chepstow where last

year's winner Synchronized will return to defend his title. In the

rolling Cotswolds this race or strainer is getting his

It's a race he knows and loves - having ridden it many times during

an illustious career as a jockey. And he's also won it twice as a

trainer - including last year's race when Champion jockey AP McCoy

guided one of his horses Synchronized to victory over the

Chepstow fences. On Tuesday, Synchronized will be back to defend

his title. He'll be carrying the same weight as last year which may

encourage punters to back him again in 2011. He will be the horse they

have to beat. Conditions are similar to last year, he is in the

their big chance. He ran a lovely race at Haydock, fingers crossed.

O'Neill has a track record of training winners in major races, no

expense is spared at the stables near Cheltenham to make sure the

horses have everything they need. He'll be entering four of them in

Tuesday's race. As far as I can remember this is as good a field as

we have seen for many years. We are very lucky to see the talent at his

stable. He assures me that there will go to finish 1-4. Also entered

this year, the 2009 winner Dream Alliance, owned by a syndicate from

Cefn Fforest, whose rags to riches story was turned into a film script,

but even they think it's unlikely he could do it again. Vale of

Glamorgn trainer Tim Vaughan will also mount a challenge with

Stewarts House. The weather forecast suggests that this year,

the meeting won't be troubled with the problems that led to it being

abandoned last December. This time last year, the Chepstow course was

under several feet of snow, so the race was rescheduled in January.

Therefore, if Synchronized can win on Tuesday, he would become the

first horse to win the Welsh National twice in the same year.

That would be one for the record book. That's it from me, have a

great Christmas. For the families of front-line

troops serving in Afghanistan, Christmas can be an emotional time.

But this year the RAF is using the internet, so relatives here can

access personal video messages from their loved ones, thousands of

miles away. December in the Afghan desert.

Around 30,000 people are stationed here, at the British military base

at Camp Bastion, including Flight Lieutenant Jamie Elliot from

Tredegar. He's serving a six month tour of duty and won't be back home

until next year. I think it's fair to say that my Christmas Day this

year will be different. I can't say that I won't be happy to be out

there, but I would prefer to be at home. Meanwhile, thousands of miles

away - in their front room in Tredegar - his parents Joe and Sian

are getting ready to watch a special Christmas message from

their son. It's the first time they've seen his face since he left

for Afghanistan. Here I am saying hello to you. The thinking of you.

It is the first tee without him. It is hard. -- the first a year. You

get messages by e-mail, but it is not the same. It makes all the

difference to see him. This year the RAF has recorded hundreds of

Christmas messages from military personnel in Afghanistan. Their

familes can then access those messages on their computer using a

special website, and individual code, supplied by the Air Force.

It's allowed the troops at Camp Bastion to tell loved ones back

home just how much they're missed. Nothing is quite the same as being

at home with your family. That is why these messages are so important.

He gives them a chance to connect with their family, and share their

duties, and that the family know they are OK. For Joe and Sian

Elliott, Christmas this year was always going to be an emotional

time. Their son may be thousands of miles away in Afghanistan, but they

can watch his message every day until he comes home next year.

Time for the weather - and someone's feeling festive - nice

jumper Derek! You have probably seen this

somewhere before? It was warned by Matt Smith, Dr Who. Anyway, a

jumper like this will come in handy tonight - it's going to be cold but

Rudolph won't be too happy with my forecast for Christmas. It's going

to be mild, damp and windy. The to be mild, damp and windy. The

only snow you'll see will be on your Xmas cards! Now heavy rain

today caused some flooding. This picture was taken in Wolfscastle in

Pembrokeshire by Geoffrey Eynon. At the moment there are 19 flood

alerts in force. One flood warning on the River Solva. Tonight much

drier. Just the odd shower. Clear skies. The wind slowly easing and

cold. Temperatures inland falling close to freezing with some ground

frost. Tomorrow morning. Christmas Eve. A cold start and a dry start

for some of us but it won't be dry everywhere. Some rain and showers

are likely in parts of the west and the north. So clouding over

tomorrow with some patchy rain and showers spreading across the

country but with some dry weather in between. The wind picking-up and

feeling chilly. Top temperatures 8 to 10 Celsius. Tomorrow night

cloudy. Some patchy rain and drizzle. Breezy too. So hopefully

Santa won't be blown off course. Christmas Day mild but windy.

Cloudy and damp as well. Some light rain, drizzle and hill fog. Drier

in parts of the north and east. Top temperatures 13 Celsius in Wrexham.

The south-westerly wind fresh to strong. Up to gale force in the

north-west. Boxing Day will continue mild and windy. Spots of

drizzle and hill fog but some dry weather as well. Temperatures 11 or

12 Celsius with a fresh to strong south-westerly wind. So a

traditional Welsh Christmas this year. In other words mild, damp and

windy. Not very festive but at least there shouldn't be too many

travel problems apart from some fog and poor visibility on higher

ground. And strong winds. That's the forecast. Time now for

the last of the Christmas Pictures. The first by Emily Belby from Barry

in the Vale of Glamorgan. The next in the Vale of Glamorgan. The next

from Rhys Evans in Williamstown. Helledd Griffiths from Glyndyfrdwy

is wishing us a merry Christmas. Our next picture is by Matthew

Price from Llandrindod. And finally Christmas lights by Grace May

Powell from Talgarth. Thanks very much for all your pictures and

photos. Have a lovely Christmas. Nadolig Llawen.

The headlines from the BBC: Airlines, train companies and

retailers are to be banned from charging excessive credit or debit

card fees. Some companies are charging up to eight pounds for a