11/03/2016 BBC Wales Today

of people suspected of having breast cancer in Wales are waiting too long

for their first hospital appointment.

Once you know, for better or worse, psychologically you can prepare

yourself for what ever is to come. But to have to wait any longer would

have been, yes, quite frightening. Also tonight, David Cameron

is criticised by senior Conservative Party figures

for focussing on the EU It helped design the first 1000

mph car - but has a Welsh Back from the front line -

the ex-servicemen and women taking part in a major study

on the difficulties And we're live in Twickenham,

with all the build up on the eve of what's been billed

as the Six Nations decider There are concerns tonight that many

thousands of patients in Wales suspected of having breast cancer

are waiting too long to get That's despite a pledge

by the Health Minister that all potential cancer cases should be

seen by an expert within 10 days. But figures obtained

by the Welsh Liberal Democrats show that since 2013 more than

11,000 breast cancer patients Steffan Messenger has

this exclusive report. Still proudly on display -

the many Mothering Sunday cards sent to 62-year-old Andrea

Evans from Barry. After battling breast cancer

for the last three years, she says every moment

spent with her six I found a lump in my

breast and went to my doctor the same day,

and I was referred to And I had a telephone

call the following It was 12 days, but it

seemed like an eternity. What was going through your mind

during that period? What is the future going to be,

and how long will the future be? If you don't count the weekend

between going to see the doctor and getting a first hospital

appointment, Andrea was seen Back in 2013, the Health

Minister, Mark Drakeford, said he expected all potential

cancer cases to be referred to a specialist

within that time scale. But today's figures show that has

not been happening in the vast majority of suspected breast

cancer cases in Wales. A freedom of information

request by the Welsh Liberal Democrats revealed that

across four of Wales's seven health boards, more than 11,000 suspected

breast cancer patients have waited longer than ten days to see

a specialist since 2013. That is at least two

thirds of all breast And there are wide

variations in average waits, with patients waiting 24 days

on average in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board area compared to just

8.3 days in Cwm Taf. The minister was very

clear in his expectations It seems to me it was one

of his top priorities. Yet two and a half years down

the line, far too many patients are not being seen within

the timescale that the Welsh Government had set itself and has

set for the National Health Service. Cancer charities point to a rise

in the number of cases of breast cancer in Wales as one

reason behind the delays. It affects more women

here than any other type of cancer. It is particularly

worrying because what is known is that once you have

discovered signs and symptoms, you want to have that

diagnosis one way or another. Once you have been diagnosed

with breast cancer, you want your treatment to start

as quickly as possible. This may actually impact

on your recovery and The Welsh Government says more

people are surviving They claim many women with breast

cancer here start treatment on the same day as their

first appointment. There's been criticism tonight

of a speech by the Prime Minister at the Welsh Conservative conference

which was dominated by arguments Former Welsh Secretary David Jones

said he was disappointed David Cameron had used the platform

to promote the EU cause. Other senior Welsh Conservatives

have also expressed concern at the focus on Europe

rather than the Assembly, and the prospects for the leader

in Wales - Andrew RT Davies. From Llangollen, our political

editor Nick Servini. Welsh lamb was on the menu for David

Cameron today. He was to visit a farm to stress the importance of

remaining in the EU for, among other things, the good of Welsh lamb

exports. And then onto the conference and a very public and

workmanlike handshake with probably the most profile former in Wales,

Andrew Davies, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, who is

campaigning to leave the EU. The strain was there for all to see when

David Cameron used large chunks of his speech to try to persuade people

to remain in. This is not some abstract question. These are

actually people's jobs, livelihoods, like chances, people's families. And

I say do not put them at risk, do not take this week in the dark. This

was above all a speech by the Prime Minister to argue for the need to

remain in the EU, particularly for Welsh farmers. It was not a speech

that talks up Andrew Davies as future First Minister, other than

very briefly at the beginning, he hardly mentioned him at all by name.

It went down well with those in the in camp, but there was criticism

from conservative campaigning to leave. In actual reality, because

the United Kingdom is a net contribute of over ?8 billion a

year, they are really not European subsidies to farmers. They are

British subsidies to farmers. Those subsidies would still be there in

the event of Brexit. So it was wrong for the Prime Minister to attack

that. Earlier Andrew Davies' focus was on the Assembly as he used his

speech to set out the policies you would be offering two borders on May

the 5th. These include plans to allow people to keep ?100,000 of

assets before paying care home fees and to reduce income is taxed when

it is devolved. But the central message was the need for change.

Labour have proven time and time again that they are bad, lazy,

complacent Government a year after year. They have run out of steam and

out of ideas. The Conservative script over the past year has been

to keep the momentum from the wins in the Welsh general election and

the Assembly campaign. The challenge is keeping to that in the face of

divisions over Europe. Nick, can you tell us more about how

the speech was received? I think there were two questions people were

asking themselves. One was the degree to which it was a personal

slight towards Andrew Arty Davies. David Cameron talked about the

strength of the Welsh Conservatives, the need to remove Corrin Davies --

Carwyn Jones. But Andrew RT Davies was not mentioned at all, in really

start contrast to what George Osborne had to say in January when

he talked about the magic combination that Andrew RT Davies

could give to Wills as First Minister. Publicly the Tories are

seeing the Prime Minister did what he had to do. Privately people are

saying there is bad light between the two men because of Andrew RT

Davies decision to campaign for an expert. And the Prime Minister has

basically used the speech as a platform for the EU campaign. One

person described it as a hand grenade going off over a very

fragile truce in the party. What is the mood at the conference? Very

good in he says they have momentum. They have had eye-catching victories

in the general election that they have got the Assembly campaign. They

have spent five years developing an extensive policy agenda and have

high profile weaknesses weaknesses in the NHS to try to capitalise on.

The question tonight is whether all of that gets drowned out because of

divisions over Europe. Thank you. A man from Caernarfon

who tried to kill his wife as they walked their children

to school has been jailed for life

for attempted murder. 46-year-old Sylvan Parry attacked

Fiona Parry on the first day Mold Crown Court heard how

he repeatedly stamped on her head in front of their children

and other parents. Mrs Parry, with the short blond

hair, was left with a brain injury. Today, of course, he has been given

a life sentence and a sentence for 15 years. He will be eligible for

parole in seven and a half years, he may serve longer. He is a dangerous

person. This was an attack against a defenceless e-mail. He showed no

remorse for his actions when we dealt with him. -- a defenceman

this... People are being urged to be aware

of the symptoms of scarlet fever after the number of cases in Wales

soared over the past three years. According to Public Health Wales,

a total of 1234 cases were reported in 2015, compared to

just 190 cases in 2013. Symptoms include a fine rash that

looks like sandpaper, high-temperature, and a swollen

tongue. BBC Wales has learnt

that a ?40 million Welsh super-computer network has created

fewer than half the jobs HPC Wales was set up in 2010 to give

small businesses the chance to take advantage of

greater processing power When you are designing

the first 1000 mph car, speed is everything,

and that means computing speed too. Building Bloodhound is just one

of the tasks the Welsh supercomputer has been involved with since

it was set up six years ago. But BBC Wales has learned

that the network, which was launched with the promise that it

would give small and medium-sized businesses access

to computer power like never before, has delivered just half

the jobs and helped half In my view, if you have ?33 million

and you want to develop innovation, you'd be far better to give that

directly to those high potential, innovative companies that create

wealth and employment That hasn't happened,

and I would suggest that it is time for both the UK

Government, which put money into this, and the Welsh

Government to re-examine the way that they actually support

innovation in Wales. The offices in Bangor

are in the process of closing, but the supercomputer

highway linking six universities And those running it say

it has been a success. HPC Wales points out

it has generated ?3.74 The Welsh Government

says it has created It is, says the acting chief

executive, a national assets. "We have a machine and a network

that Wales can be proud of. "It is amongst the best

in Europe," There is already an HPC phase

two in the planning, another five-year project,

this one led by Cardiff University, with a focus

on research institutions. The Welsh Government has said

HPC one was scaled back when the financial crisis hit

and has confirmed that funding proposals for the new

project have been submitted to the Welsh

European Funding Office. What are the difficulties facing

military veterans when they return That's the focus of

a major research project The study wants to hear from those

who've left the Armed Forces within the last five years

and settled in North Wales. It's hoped the findings will help

ex-servicemen and women access education, jobs and

healthcare more easily. Jason Palmer from Colwyn Bay

is back on civvy street. He endured years of rehabilitation

for serious injuries he received when his vehicle hit

an improvised explosive device Despite having advice

from the MoD to prepare for life after the military, he says

it's still It is a massive separation to go

from being in a regimented system or from one of the

different services to suddenly coming out and having

to fend for yourself and provide your own accommodation,

and you know, go out and get schooling sorted out

for the kids and everything. There are back-up systems

available within the forces, and sometimes that just

needs a little bit of ironing out so that people are

aware of this before they actually leave,

so that when they come out They don't think that

the world is against them. And so he's one of the people

helping Glyndwr University with a two year study of the issues

facing ex-forces personnel. The project, funded by the military

charity the Forces in Mind Trust, wants to hear from veterans

across North Wales how access to accommodation, schools,

employment and other support I think there has always been

an issue, but I think there has been an attitude in the past

that you just And I think now we are beginning

to appreciate that maybe the community has to have a little

bit more responsibility about how we engage with those who have been

in the Armed Forces. Entering the Armed Forces

means a life of rules, discipline and teamwork,

where daily routines Things that aren't necessarily

echoed in the civilian world and can make it harder to adjust

when leaving the military. The Glyndwr project is intended

to show those in the health and social care sector the value

of engaging with ex-servicemen and women to ease their transition

to life beyond the barracks. Much more to come before

7pm, including: What do you do

if you're in Australia, short of cash,

and longing to come home? We'll be hearing from the man

who posted himself back to Wales in a crate - airmail -

in the mid-60s. I said to my two Irish friends, I am

going back to the UK. And they said, yes, we all are, but how are you

planning to get back? And I said, in a box.

Well, the Six Nations doesn't get any bigger than this weekend.

Wales take on England, and Iwan Griffiths is live

Yes, thank you very much. Good evening and a warm welcome to the

home of English rugby, which has been a happy hunting ground for

Wales in recent years, with three victories since 2008. But England

are under a new setup with court Eddie Jones, who started a war of

words during the week, describing the Welsh scrum as so-called

illegal. Yes, the stakes are high before the hundred and 28 battle in

the history of rugby games between England and Wales. -- hundred and

28th. Instrumental in the World Cup win

for Wales against England in September, six

months later and Dan Biggar was back at Twickenham this

afternoon, preparations The number ten battle,

Dan Biggar versus George Ford, is just one of the contest

that will be on show They may be family and the best

of friends off the field, but the clash between

Toby Faletau and Billy Vunipola is a

mouthwatering prospect. Brought over to Wales by their rugby

playing Tongan fathers, brothers Billy and Mako and cousin

Taulupe's rugby skills I used to pick them up,

take them training on a Thursday or a Tuesday evening,

and at that time, While the Faletaus stayed

in South Wales, the Vunipolas moved to England, much

to the disappointment Billy Vunipola, at our last

presentation evening, got up and made

a thank you speech to the teachers that were present,

the coaches who had helped And he turned to me then,

and he said, promise that And I have still got the letter

in the house to this day. Despite his promise, Billy will line

up in white tomorrow. He's the top ball-carrier

in this Six Nations. Up against cousin Taulupe,

the tournament's top tackler, with an incredible

96% success rate. The defence all important

when it comes to recent We are a group that communicates

very well, and we are used There is a lot of continuity

in selection, and the boys each other very well, and we can

all second-guess what each other So our defensive unit

is working well for us at the moment, and we need

to go up for Saturday. England are unbeaten

under new The Australian has refused to talk

to the press over the last few The tactical mind

games have started. I am quite upset about

the way they scrummage. They scrummage illegally,

they pre-engage all the time, which is against

the laws of the game. And what happens in a game of rugby

is that the pre-engage because they don't want

the contestant to start the scrum. And then they get

penalised one or two times at the start of the game,

but the referee gets sick The rivalry alive as ever,

and there have been memorable matches over the years,

with many famous tries. In 1993, this one led

to a 10-9 win for Wales. Orchestrated by Emyr Lewis,

finished by Ieuan Evans. So I put the chip in, and Rory was

sleeping, and the rest is history, really. No one expected victory for

Wales in that game. It was all about character, resolve. But at the time,

we didn't think it would be a potential match-winning try at that

juncture. The two sides have met 127 times in test rugby. England on 58,

Wales on 57. It could be all even this weekend. And following the

final, the women's game kicks off just over the road, Wales women

aiming for a first-ever historic away win over England. Having lost

to Ireland, there ran slam hopes are over, but the under 20s are still on

course for a clean sweep. They travel to Bristol tonight to face

England on the back of victories over Ireland, Scotland and France.

We are under no illusions how difficult it is going to be,

but you know, very much we are looking inwards at ourselves,

our performance, and if we can improve on where we have gone

then we'll give ourselves a good chance.

In football, Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey is expected

to be out for four weeks with a thigh injury.

That's according to his club's manager, Arsene Wenger.

That timeline would rule him out of crucial games with the Gunners,

while he would also miss Wales' friendlies

The 25-year-old was injured in Tuesday's 4-0 FA Cup win at Hull.

Football, and Swansea City travel to Bournemouth tomorrow on the back

Alan Curtis will be in charge once again as head coach

Francesco Guidolin is still unwell following a chest infection.

In League 2, Newport are in Portsmouth and Wrexham

welcome Boreham Wood in the National League.

Meanwhile, with ten games to go, the Bluebirds are just one place

outside the Championships top six as they entertain fellow

It is this stage of the season, isn't it, where every game seems

It is just the way it is, and whatever comes after Ipswich

But yeah, look, it is a huge game

Cycling, and Welshman Geraint Thomas is 6th overall after stage five

The Team Sky cyclist is 23 seconds behind the leader Michael Matthews.

Back here in Twickenham and back to the rugby. The build-up carries on

this evening over on BBC Two Wales with Sport Wales. There is also live

commentary on radio Cymru and radio Wales. Kick-off year between England

and Wales at 4pm. A man from Cardiff has been

re-living the extraordinary experience he had more than 50 years

ago when he attempted to airmail himself in a crate from

Australia back to the UK. Brian Robson was homesick,

but he couldn't afford the flight, so had a wooden crate made

so he could stowaway in the hold. His adventure is now due

to be made into a film, This was Cardiff in the 1960s. Bryan

Robson's home city. But he was a teenager looking for adventure. At

the time Cardiff didn't offer that much, and there was an advert in the

local newspaper, and I applied for a job, got accepted, and that was it.

I was on my way. Bryan travelled to Melbourne initially in an assisted

immigration programme. But he was homesick and isolated without any

money to return to Wales. Then a glimpse of removals company signed

one day give him idea. I said to my two Irish friends, I am going back

to the UK. They said, yes, we all are, but how are you planning to get

back? And I said, in a box. After weeks of planning, his friends

packed him into the great, and hours later he was on a plane from

Melbourne to Sydney. He was on his way home. But for much of the time

he was upside down and in pain. He was lucky to bite. At the end of the

probably four or five stops and we made, I didn't know where I was, I

didn't know what time it was what day it was. I think if you had asked

me my name I wouldn't do that either. I was in a pretty bad

condition, to be honest. -- he was lucky to survive.

Unbeknown to Brian, he had been loaded onto a Pan Am plane to Los

Angeles because his flight to the UK had been full. The FBI, CIA,

ambulance, doctors, you name it, they were all there in that great.

He spent several days in hospital but his story had spread worldwide.

It was only a small box, 39 inches by 29, by 33, I believe. Pan Am paid

for him to travel home first-class. More than 50 years on, his adventure

is now due to be made into a film with the working title This Way

how's the weekend looking, Derek?

It's not looking too bad for the weekend.

Some cloud but plenty more dry weather.

Sunday the best day of the weekend with more in the way of sunshine.

This evening and tonight most of Wales dry, but in the north-west

and Anglesey a few spots of light rain.

In Powys and the south a few mist and fog patches forming.

Cloudier than last night, so not as cold, but chilly inland

Temperatures in Powys falling close to freezing.

A few spots of light rain but not amounting to much.

Bright in the southeast and chilly with a few mist and fog patches.

During the day, any mist and fog patches will lift.

Plenty of cloud but some bright spells.

The best of the hazy sunshine in the south.

Temperatures reaching eight to twelve Celsius with a light

If you're travelling to Twickenham in the morning watch out

But I'm sure the Dragons will stir things up on the pitch.

Tomorrow night dry and cloudy for many of us although there maybe

a few spots of light rain in the west.

And it will feel like spring in the afternoon with just a light

Sunday the best day for a walk or on the coast or in the hills.

Into next week high pressure will be firmly in charge.

The Jet Stream diverted north well away from the UK.

The dry weather welcome after such a wet winter.

Thank you. A reminder of our top story. There are concerns that many

thousands of patients in Wales suspected of having breast cancer

are waiting too long to get an initial hospital appointment. I will

have an update for you at eight o'clock and then again after the BBC

News at ten. But thank you for watching from all of us on the

programme. Goodbye.