12/01/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines. Amy Francis hoped an

operation would help her beat cancer. But an inquest hears she

died after the surgeon tried to remove her liver, instead of her

kidney. It was a great shock. It was what we thought would be a

routine operation and we were devastated. We lost her so suddenly.

Also in the programme tonight, this school may not be included in the

primary school banding system. It is too small. But despite the

controversy, the Education Minister will press ahead with the plans.

The fund to help the Gleision miners families will top a million

pounds. Trustees say they are astonished by the amount raised.

Cardiff University seals a �1.6 billion deal to continue to work on

a drug that could transform the treat -- treatment of hepatitis C.

And you won't be seeing any of this during the Olympic Games. The "no

go" advertising zone 500 metres around the Millennium Stadium.

Good evening. An inquest has heard how a grandmother died after a

surgeon accidentally tried to remove her liver instead of one of

her kidneys. The operation was supposed to help Amy Francis beat

cancer. Instead the routine operation using keyhole surgery

ended in tragedy. Caroline Evans reports. Amy Francis was 77, a

mother of four with seven grandchildren. She had lived and

new -- worked in Newport, enjoying good health for most of her life,

until she was diagnosed with a kidney cancer. Doctors told her

that if she had her right kidney removed, there was a good chance

her left kidney could be treated and she would recover. It was a

great shock. It was what we thought would be a routine operation. We

were devastated at the time to lose her so suddenly. Surgeon Adon --

Adam Carter had done such an operation more than 100 times

before. But what should have been routine went tragically wrong. Amy

Francis was undergoing keyhole surgery where small cuts are made

in the body, allowing surgeons to insert a camera and instruments

without the need for -- need for a bigger incision. The procedure

should have involved attaching the kidney and pulling it out through a

cat in the crime. By that time, the key hole camera cannot be used and

the sea -- surgeon is working by touch alone. Deliverer is usually

out of the way higher up -- the liver. When it be surgeon reached

in to get hold of the kidney, his hand instead grabbed the liver. He

told the inquest today that initially he had asked a trainee

surgeon to remove the kidney but when she said she was not confident,

he had taken over and he was responsible for the mistake. I

should have known where the kidney was will stop emerging from the

hearing, Amy Francis's family said Mr Carter's honesty had saved them

grief and the hospital from legal action. It was what we expected the

outcome to be, it was a mistake. But we are glad we came and

listened to the full story of what happened. We take heart from the

fact they have learned from the mistake that was made. We accept

the decision of the court. We miss -- which Mr Carter all the best and

appreciate his honesty in admitting the error. Hopefully we can put it

behind us now. In a statement, the health board said it fully accepts

the verdict and all thoughts are with the family. A full internal

investigation was undertaken which examined in every detail every

action taken prior to and during the operation. Every possible

effort was made by the surgical team to save the life of Amy

Francis, they say. The details of the death have been shared with

surgeons nationwide core stock as a result, it is hoped lessons are

being learned by the profession across Britain. Plans to put

primary schools in Wales into bands will go ahead later this year,

despite calls for the whole scheme to be abandoned. The system is

similar to the controversial one already in place in our

comprehensives, but as many as a third of primary schools in rural

areas may not be included. The Education Minister denies claims

that'll make the whole system meaningless, as our Education

Correspondent, Nicola Smith, reports.

In just a few months' time, parents, teachers and pupils here at

Greenway Primary School in Cardiff will learn for the first time what

band their school is in. Just like the system in secondary schools

across Wales, the banding is designed to see how each school is

performing and which ones need extra support. It's likely that

pupil attendance and teacher assessments at Key Stage 1 and 2

will be taken into account. The exact criteria is still being

discussed. But it's controversial. I don't think we need it. I think

it might be divisive, it's a score on the door and doesn't show what

goes on behind that door. It's one number. I think we have other

systems in place, Estyn framework and the inspection system that pick

up schools doing well and schools that need help. But unlike Greenway

Primary School, Ysgol Penllwyn near Aberystwyth probably won't be

included in the new system. In fact, around a third of schools in Wales

won't because they have too few pupils to be accurately and fairly

measured. With a relatively small number of kids in each year group,

one child can represent aboutt 33% of that particular cohort so that

would unbalance the figures year on year and make it very difficult to

make them meaningful. Parents here told us they didn't need to be part

of a banding system to know their school was doing well. We know that

our child is doing very well here, academically, and other parents are

happy too, so we're fine with that. This is a small school. Community

and family spirit far outweighs anything else at this stage of the

game at primary school level. of the parents seem very happy, we

absolutely fine way back. -- -- with that. Parents at Ysgol Parc y

Bont on Anglesey don't know if their school will be banded and

opinions on the system are mixed. It just gives you a bit of a

comparison really. I look more at GCSE results than the bands but

it's a useful benchmark to look at. I think I go with my gut instinct.

Plaid Cymru has called on the Education Minister to abandon the

plans entirely because it says if significant numbers of small rural

schools are excluded, the overall system becomes meaningless. A call

resolutely rejected by Leighton Andrews. There are greater

challenges in developing an objective model for primary schools

compared to secondary schools and the greatest of these is the large

number of schools which have a small number of pupils. Banding of

primary schools is important as we want to ensure system of providing

support for schools is there from the start of a child's education.

The exact model for primary school banding is being developed right

now. Schools will be provided with a provisional band before Easter

and the final band in the summer term.

A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder after a pedestrian died

in Cardiff Bay. A Spanish budget airline is adding two new routes

out of Cardiff airport. Flights will begin operating three times

per week from June. Campaigners opposing more wind farms and pylons

in mid-Wales have been giving evidence to an inquiry by the

Environment Committee. They claim and European directives on at

protecting the environment has been overlooked and want a review of the

policy which encourages wind Energy Development in several areas of the

country. It is a bad policy. It was squeezed through without being

monitored, as it should have been, by the director. There was a day it

-- degree of legitimacy and what happened but it looks bad, it's not

bad, it is bad. The Welsh comb and have responded saying that their

policy predated any European directive -- Welsh government. It's

a tragedy that scarred a community. Now it's been confirmed that the

charity fund set up to help the families of the men who died in the

Gleision Mine will top �1 million. That's how much has been raised

since the accident in the Swansea Valley last year. Rhodri Lewis has

spoken exclusively to the fund's trustees. A meeting of the

charity's trustees this afternoon. The Archbishop of Wales, Barry

Morgan, and Tyrone O'Sullivan, the man behind Tower Colliery, all

charged with ensuring the public's generosity reaches the families of

the four dead miners. The fund is now likely to top �1 million.

sincerely think it will make �1 million. Going back to September,

nobody expected us. -- this. Now we are up 970,000. I sincerely think

we will make it there. Thursday the 15th of September, and a huge

rescue operation after four miners were trapped underground. The

Gleision Mine near Pontardawe had flooded. All the men who died that

day, David Powell, Charles Breslin, Gary Jenkins and Philip Hill with

families to support. Within days a fund was set up to help them, which

is now likely to top �1 million. The tragedy of what happened here

not only touched people in the Swansea Valley and Wales, but was

felt around the world. In the months since September, the

trustees have received cheques from right across the globe. There's

been particular generosity from countries with strong mining

traditions, such as New Zealand and Chile. Today the trustees met to

monitor how the fund is doing. They've already invested a

substantial part in an account to gain interest and two payouts have

already been made. One was to the families to help with funeral costs,

the other to the daughter of one of the men who died. She is disabled,

and has used the money to buy an electric wheelchair and a specially

adapted car. We have had numerous fundraisers over the Christmas..

is phenomenal. The fund is expected to be wound up later this year.

Only then will more details emerge on how the generosity of people

from Wales and all over the world will be used to help the families

of the Gleision miners. Still to come in the programme, this is the

people's market in Wrexham but unfortunately, not many people are

using it. The council has offered stallholder has a 25 % cut in rent

but is it enough? And why these will be banned around the

Millennium Stadium during the Olympics.

A drug developed at Cardiff University to Crete -- treat

hepatitis C has been bought by an American country in a �1.6 billion

deal. The tie in could be a lucrative move for the university.

When I was standing in this laboratory one year in -- one year

ago, it was to report the first human trials of this drug had been

successful. Today, they have passed another milestone. You have been

working on the project for a number of years. Tell us about what it

means for the development of the drug and the university. As you

correctly said, this started four years ago with a corporation

between Cardiff University and this company from the United States. Now

what happens is the potential of this compound has been recognised

by a big company. It has acquired and invested in us. It has the

potential to become a drug and really it is a force behind us. It

There are 300,000 people in the UK who have hepatitis C, it can be

fatal and people have to go on the transplant lists for a new liver.

With new do-it- -- drugs we often hear the words pioneering and

revolutionary. How good could this drug before those people?

current treatment really only works for a small number of patients, and

the drug that has just been approved -- the drugs that have

been approved to not cover all types of the disease. This drug

will cover all the types of hepatitis C so there is a chance

for every patient to be cured of this disease by using this drug.

Briefly, I you enter Phase Three now? We are about to finish the

phase two trials in a few months, and then the final stage, phase

three, soon after that, and possibly in three to four years'

time it will be on the market and time for us and the patience of

Wales. Thank you for sharing that with us. If that happens in 18

months or so we can guarantee we will be back here reporting it.

Back to you. Thank you. Motor insurance group

Admiral has been bailed plans for a new office building in Newport. The

FTSE 100 business has provisional plans for the Cambrian Centre in

the city centre. Up to 2000 staff could be based there by the end of

next year. Prices are being slashed at

Wrexham's markets, not for customers but for traders. Business

is so slow the council is cutting the rent it charges stall holders

by a quarter to help them out as part of a series of measures to

boost the town's three indoor markets. Matthew Richards is at one

of them for us tonight. Matthew. Thank you very much, Lucy. The

shutters have come down on another day hearer the People's Market in

Wrexham but we have been here much of the day and they have not been

many people here, which is where the council has stepped in and

reduced rent rates for the 100 stallholders here in Wrexham for

the next three months, traditionally a quiet time of the

year. But some of the traders here, who had a meeting tonight with

council members, thing more could be done to bring shoppers back.

Evelyn Clutton is moving on. She has had a stall at the People's

Market for two years and is leaving to open a shop nearby. She's

renting it from the council so will benefit from the dreaded by per

cent discount, but so she is going because she doesn't get enough

passing trade here, especially since some big stores left the high

street. Since they have closed down, the People's market has gone down

really badly. All the people that are supposed as -- be supporting

local businesses, they should be doing that, not going to bigger

companies. Normally when prices are cut by 25 per cent it is something

traders do to attract customers but this time it is being done by the

council to help traders turn a corner after the busy Christmas

period has ended. The council admits it may have fallen short in

the past but hopes a series of talks with stall holders will

create a better relationship and a busier town centre. Communication

is probably key to this and I have to say the traders will come to you

and say may be the council has and always listened, so we have a bit

of a sea-change going on and are getting the communication process

right, so it is important for us. Shoppers were thin on the ground

this afternoon despite free parking from midday. One told me the

markets are missing out because the town centre is spread over a wide

area. This is in the middle, you see, so you either go to one end of

town or the other end up miss the middle. The rent relief will

certainly help traders weather the winter and the council is promising

more action to bring people back to the People's Market.

Joining me now is a man who has stepped into the world of market

trading and opened a store here. Why did you come? It is a fantastic

place. It is a fantastic place to trade, and Wrexham being

traditionally a market town, and now it has a new level of vibrancy

and liveliness with new businesses coming in every week. This 25 per

cent rent cut is because business has been slow, that will obviously

be a bonus. It is a huge bonus. When you are starting up with a

stall, keeping costs down is an important factor it so it is great

for the council is doing for market traders, new and existing, some

have been here for 20 years. met with more experienced traders

to write and probably discuss a lot, but you want to get people through

the doors. How would you do that? The cancer had many things plan for

the near future. Free parking since November has increased footfall,

which is positive, and we hope for a new shuttle bus in the next few

months, and we have been talking about ideas for facelift in the

People's Market and improving its look, and may be doing a relaunch.

Has the market still got an appeal, due think people still like it?

has a huge appeal, Wrexham has three vibrant markets, indoor and

outdoor, which are expanding all time. We're always getting people

coming in and it is a fantastic mix of stall holders, old, new, young,

experienced, this is the place to come and shots. Excellent. Great

sales pitch. We wish you the best for the opening of your stall. Back

to you, Lucy. Thank you, Matthew. Meanwhile the

closure and sale of Abergavenny cattle market is one step closer.

Monmouthshire Council wants to move the market outside the town and

build a supermarket on the site. The local government minister Carl

Sargeant says the Council should have the final say. He is appealing

a Victorian law which could have forced them to keep the market

where it is there -- where it is. In sport, in the last few minutes,

the International Rugby Board has ruled that London Irish player

Stephen Sinn were his only eligible to play for Wales. The former

Kennedy fly-half was picked for Scotland because his mother is

Scottish, but the governing body has now ruled he can only represent

Wales because of a previous appearance for Wales and twenties.

In football, Wales captain Aaron Ramsey says he was right to express

his disappointment that players had not been asked their opinion during

the search for a new national coach. Responding to criticism, the

Arsenal midfielder said he was giving an honest view, and didn't

need advisors to tell him what he should and shouldn't say.

Meanwhile, four Swansea City players could be part of the

British Olympic football team after being named on the initial

shortlist. Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, Joe Allen and on-loan

centre-half Steven Caulker have all been asked for their availability.

Boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed the coach had been impressed by the

performances. I think it is fantastic for them. Liz spoke to a

number of them individually, and obviously there is a long way to go,

but I think the feeling is similar to mine, it is something I

encourage. If it is good enough for Lionel messy, it is good enough for

our players. Talking of the Olympics, businesses in the heart

of Cardiff will be banned from displaying advertising hoardings

while Olympic events are being staged at the Millennium Stadium.

Legislation passed by the National Assembly this week means only

official sponsors of the games can display adverts within 500 metres

of the event when the football comes to the city in July and

August. When the big sporting events come

to town, Cardiff comes alive. The central location of the stadium is

a bonus for traders who can capitalise on the large crowds and

entice them through their doors, advertising special offers. In July

and August this year the Millennium Stadium will host Olympic football,

and local businesses were looking forward to promoting their wares as

usual, but this summer, on the day and day before the Olympic events,

all advertising and promotional material like this the than 500

metres at the Millennium Stadium will be banned unless they are from

official sponsors. The National Assembly passed a special law

earlier this week preventing advertising by non sponsors and in

Cardiff it will have a big impact, from bus shelters and advertising

hoardings to telephone boxes and billboards. I think it is a shame

that businesses cannot promote their things in the area.

sponsors have paid a huge amount of money so they should have the right.

Sponsors pay a high price to be connected to a prestigious sporting

event, and other businesses are often keen to cash in on the

exposure for free, think Newport's Ryder Cup and this book make a's

attempt to get his companies name on screen. Here, Paddy Power's

attempt at so-called at Bush advertising was blocked by the

courts. -- ambush advertising. The exclusion zone works fine for these

new purpose built Olympic stadia, but Cardiff traders argue the rules

shouldn't apply here. I don't think there is a city in the world that

has a stadium right in the centre, within such close proximity to

other retail units, so I think they should have taken a bit more of a

lenient approach. But one Assembly Member representing the city centre

so she is confident that those policing the rules will use a light

touch. We need to make sure traders within the exclusion no -- they

know exactly what they can and cannot do and stay within the

regulations. We also need to be clear that they are policed with a

light touch so honest traders had nothing to fear. In a statement

tonight London 20 Todd said the rules are protect -- to protect

this one's investments, but they say regulations allow local

companies within the zone to apply for or ruck -- authorisation for

the sprays and silage. One area of uncertainty, however, went execs to

constitute an advert, with this railway bridge 500 metres from the

stadium need to be covered up? Let's find out what the new -- next

few days have in store, will we Yes, it is time to dig out the

staff admittance because it will turn cold and it already is --

scarf and mittens. It will be more like winter should be over the next

few days, colder and much drier, some sunshine, frost and fog

patches. Tonight is dry with clear skies, mist patches and fog, and

cold, the coldest night of the month so far. Those temperatures

minus 1 in Powys, lower in rural spots, been in widespread ground

High pressure over Britain tonight meaning dry and settled weather so

tomorrow morning, certainly much colder than we have been used to,

but at least it will be dry, frost in most places, and watch out for

fog patches if you are travelling. It could be locally dense, three

edict -- freezing and slow to lists. Temperatures only on a me around

one sources in Caernarfon. It will linger into the afternoon in

sunspots perhaps but most of the country fine with bright skies and

sunshine to look forward to. Temperatures recovering, eventually

reaching between 5 and 8 Celsius, 41-46 Fahrenheit, which is about

right for this time of year. Hardly a breath of wind as well. Tomorrow

night dry over the mixture of cloud, mist and fog patches, and if

anything tomorrow night will be colder than tonight. As for the

weekend, it is more of the same, really, generally dry, some

sunshine, frost, a few fog patches, I think the best of the sunshine in

the north and west on Saturday, a lovely day in Colwyn Bay and

Tregaron to go for a walk. Temperatures 546 Celsius, 42

Fahrenheit. Some low cloud is likely, however, meaning some areas

won't be quite so lucky. It will turn out grey and cold,

temperatures on Sunday four Celsius in Wrexham, maybe six in

Aberystwyth and Fishguard, with more of a breeze in the east and

south-east. The reason for the dry, and settled spell of weather is

high pressure on Monday centred somewhere over Germany, so next

week will start dry, but it may turn milder and more unsettled by

the middle of the week. Then again, this high pressure, you never know,

may hold on, so the dry weather could well last for longer,

possibly for most of next week. Our picture tonight is from Ffos Las

racecourse in Carmarthenshire, then Sky at Night, Shepherds delight.

There is some truth in this saying, which has been in use since

biblical times. Tomorrow will be dry with sunshine, but watch out

for Jack frost, and a few fog patches as well. So it is looking a

bit colder over the next few days, bit colder over the next few days,

Lucy. Thank you, Derek. The main headlines. Tesco, the giant on the

High Street, has seen disappointing sales in the last few months. Sales

over the festive period were lower than the previous year, prompting

the company to issue a profit warning.

The family of the Birmingham couple found dead at their home yesterday

have made an emotional appeal for help in finding whoever was

responsible. The bodies -- their bodies were discovered by one of

their sons. A serving officer with the West Midlands forces examining

their debts -- investigating. In Wales, an inquest hears how a

grandmother died after a surgeon tried to remove her liver instead

of one of her kidneys. The operation was supposed to help Amy

Francis beat cancer. And plans to banned primary schools

will go ahead later this year despite calls for the whole scheme

to be abandoned. But as many as a third of primary schools in Wales