10/01/2014 BBC Wales Today

from the Atlantic. Thank you very much. That's it from us.

Welcome to Wales Today - our top stories... Waiting times for scans

and ultrasounds treble - patients here wait significantly longer than

those in England. Forced-out as leader of Powys Council in a bitter

political battle - now a new man takes charge. Also tonight... Is

this the future of television here? Local TV entirely about where you

live moves a step closer. In tonight's sport - Cardiff and

Swansea in the hunt for points - it's Solksjaer's first Premer League

match, while the Swans aim for same again at Old Trafford. And they were

honoured for one of Wales' most dramatic sea rescues - their story

re-told today. The number of patients waiting

longer than they should for diagnostic services like MRI scans

and ultrasounds has more than trebled in the last two years. The

latest figures show 23,000 patients were waiting longer than eight

weeks. The wait is also significantly longer than in England

for similar tests. Steffan Messenger reports. When a doctor wants to find

out more about a patient's illness or condition, they refer them for

diagnostic tests like x-ray or ultrasound. Under a Welsh NHS

standards, the maximum amount of time a patient should have to wait

to get access to a diagnostic service is eight weeks. Over the

last two years, the number of patience who have had to wait longer

than that has gone up and up. In 2011, the figure stood at

than that has gone up and up. In 7500. One year later, it had climbed

to over 15,000. The latest figure, for November last year, stands at

well over 23,000. Over for November last year, stands at

years, the number for November last year, stands at

waiting over the maximum time as for November last year, stands at

more than trebled. If you are waiting for a diagnosis, and some of

this diagnostic equipment helps to tell clinicians whether there is a

problem or not, it can be a very unnerving time for patients, many of

whom will be vulnerable and elderly, on these waiting lists, which is why

we need urgent action from the Welsh government. Our analysis daily shows

the percentage of patience waiting longer than they should have two for

a range of services is far higher here than across the border. 32% of

patients in Wales waited longer than eight weeks for an ultrasound last

November, compared with 0.1% in England. For CT scans, the figures

were again markedly different. The time from when the clock starts

ticking is offering different in England than it is in Wales, so we

need caution. However, what is key for NHS Wales and for ministers is

to make sure that we do hit the targets. It is an issue which is a

Gemma got in touch. She says... And Gareth says...

And Colin described his daughter's six-month wait for an MRI scan as

frustrating. Let's make it very clear, there is some excellent

treatment and some very excellent, Speedy treatment across Wales. But

they are almost cancelled out by the negative experiences, which get the

bigger headlines. It is the inequity of treatment which any system must

strive to stamp out. The Welsh government says health boards are

putting in place a number of measures, such as the use of mobile

MRI scanners. It says there has been a rising demand for services like

this and expects things to improve by the summer. The Health Minister

has suggested any targets in Wales do not always suggest what is best

for patients, and he is in the process of reviewing them.

This week we've been reporting on the difficult decisions facing our

councils. In Powys, they need to save ?40 million over the next three

years, but they will have to begin that task amidst a political power

struggle. Live to our reporter Charlotte Dubenskij, who is in

Llandrindod Wells. Good evening. Change is in the air

here in Powys. This morning, David Jones, the leader of the local

confidence, which was passed by confidence, which was passed by

42-30. The authority now has a new leader,

42-30. The authority now has a new Berri Thomas. A town founded on the

healing properties of its spa. Today, it was the wounds of Powys

Council Today, it was the wounds of Powys

after sacking three members of his own Cabinet. We had ended up in a

position where there was the leader of a council who had three times

ignored the wishes of his group not to go into coalition with the other

group, and he was left on his own, and had to join the other group. So,

the council ended up with a leader from a group different to that in

which he was when he was elected. Powys Council is made up of 73

councillors. Of those, 48 are independent. They formed two main

groups -- formed two main groups, after the local elections of 2012.

David Jones was leader of one of the groups, but after the reshuffle,

they disbanded, and he jumped ship to the other group. He has now been

replaced by independent councillor Parry Thomas. I think it is very

important for me to show leadership and take the county council

forward, so that we can provide very good services, for value for money,

within Powys. The council must find savings of ?40 million over the ?20

million worth of that must be found in the next financial year alone.

The council is looking at cuts to services like Meals on Wheels,

scrapping free transport for post-16 education and closing a number of

adult daycare centres and public toilets. The new leader hopes

members can now flush away their disagreements and face those hard

decisions together. That budget goes out for consultation next week, and

there some incredibly difficult decisions ahead of the council. The

newly dead, Mr Thomas, says the political infighting must now stop.

-- the new leader. Plans to run power lines through a

forest as part of a controversial wind farm project in Carmarthenshire

have been unveiled. Western Power Distribution wants to connect some

of the tallest turbines in Wales by using wooden structures, up to 18

metres high. But opponents want the cables in the Brecha Forest to be

buried. The company has announced the corridors for the route, with

the preferred option joining existing overhead lines south of

Carmarthen. Work will begin tomorrow to remove a

Grade 2-listed seafront shelter in Aberystwyth which was badly damaged

during the recent storms. Aberystwyth which was badly damaged

17-year-old Sam says he Aberystwyth which was badly damaged

He underwent surgery Criticisms in a leaked internal

review Criticisms in a leaked internal

activity among operating theatre staff, is a surprise to him and his

family. When he went in for his operation, they let us go in with

him up to the point where they put him to sleep, and we were there when

he came back, and everything was brilliant. They made an impossible

situation and durable for me. For me, that was a massive deal. They

made it as comfortable as possible and they were as friendly to me as

they could have been. I cannot say enough about them. The latest

critical report into the running of the hospital says near misses are

under reported. The working environment is hostile, according to

some, and there are examples of staff feeling pressurised into

undertaking activities which they do not feel are safe. Over several

months, we have seen the consequences of a restructure which

has steam staff pay getting affected and start getting downgraded. The

review says there is no evidence that patients have been harmed, but

changes are urgently needed. The results of an external inspection

are also due shortly. In England, they have the quality commission,

which I think the people in Wales have said is more of a remit than

they have currently got. -- the care quality on. If the Care Quality

Commission firms that there are issues which need to be addressed,

then that should be done as a matter of urgency. The simple truth is that

Alder Hey is safe. Safety is paramount. This report is not a

hidden report, it is an open report, the latest state of play on

a big journey we are going through with theatre staff. With the

reputation of Alder Hey under scrutiny, patients and parents are

hoping high standards will continue to be met. Bangor, Mold and swansea

could join Cardiff in getting their own local television channels.

Today, the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom published the latest bids it

has received to run television stations across the UK. Plans to set

up a station for Cardiff are already well under way. They plan to go on

air in the next few months. So, will it all prove popular with viewers?

Caroline Evans reports. In America, cities have their own TV stations,

and the UK Government has long thought we should have the same.

Today, Ofcom announced the latest round of applications to hold

licences, and they include bids for Mold, Bangor and Swansea. This is

licences, and they include bids for one of the companies bidding for the

in Swansea. They have no TV experience, their track record is in

community projects, but they experience, their track record is in

this is a golden business opportunity. Local TV already exists

in many parts of opportunity. Local TV already exists

this station in Blaenau Gwent, they are all broadcast on the internet

only. We conducted an audit of the are all broadcast on the internet

local media scene to ascertain the level of potential advertising

revenue. Having conduct surveys of local businesses, their enthusiasm

for the concept convinced us that this was a starter. That we should

put the effort into launching a bid. Local TV already exists in many

parts of Wales, but like this station, they all broadcast on the

internet only. This move will allow people to watch news and

entertainment specific to their town on their television just like any

other TV channel. So does that appeal to people in Mold? You do get

coverage on the Welsh TV, but not specifically to this area, so, yes,

I think a lot of people would watch it. There is not enough news it is a

very good idea, yes, because everything goes on Facebook. The BBC

is playing a big part in making local TV a reality. It's putting

money into each project for the first three years. After that, teams

like this will have to sell enough advertising to stay on air. Here in

Swansea, they say they've done their homework and the business is

sustainable in the long term. If they are successful, they'd like to

be up-and-running by December. You're watching Wales Today -- still

to come before... Big games for Cardiff and Swansea this weekend, as

they both go in search of Premier League points. And Derek - the early

years. We trawl through the archive, marking 60 years of the TV weather

forecast. Advice agencies are buckling under the strain of funding

cuts, leaving ordinary people with nowhere to turn for help. That's the

warning from the Low Commission, which was set-up to assess the

impact of UK Government cuts to legal aid. The Commission is now

calling for a ?100 million investment to ensure a basic

provision of support for everyone who needs it. Cemlyn Davies reports.

Lee is pursuing the case on behalf of his father. He launched his case

just in time. Had he waited a few more weeks, you may not have been

entitled to free specialist advice, because of reforms to legal aid.

With the legal aid, because both parents are elderly and on

benefits, it was going to cost them. But if that was withdrawn, there is

no way that we could have followed through, because of financial

reasons. As a member of the commission, Bob has spent

reasons. As a member of the year looking at what UK Government

reasons. As a member of the cuts to legal aid have meant for

agencies cuts to legal aid have meant for

we have found is advice cuts to legal aid have meant for

That means that individuals cuts to legal aid have meant for

getting the advice that they need. cuts to legal aid have meant for

The commission is now calling for an investment of ?100 billion to ensure

basic revision of legal advice. Once the governments in Westminster and

in Cardiff to adopt a national strategy to arrest the issue. The UK

Government says it has made additional funding available, but it

has had to face up to tough choices. The Welsh government says it has

announced new funding to make sure people don't fall through the

cracks. The report discusses the impact of 30% cuts on the Citizens

Advice Bureau service in the Swansea and Neath-Port Talbot area. This

bureau is closed. The office import Tolbert is shot as well. Meanwhile,

a third of the bureau staff in this area have been made redundant, and

all because of the need to make savings. In the meantime, more and

more people are seeking advice. We have seen a significant increase in

the demand for our services, mainly down to welfare reform. An increase

in payday lending, and also changes to employment law. At a time when

the need for support is at its greatest, those whose job it is to

offer help are also feeling the strain.

Tonight's sports news now - here's Claire with the details. Good

evening. Cardiff City are preparing to play their first Premier League

match under new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tomorrow. Norweigan

midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem could make his debut against West Ham,

with Craig Bellamy set to play his first game for two months. Swansea

City travel to Old Trafford for the second time in six days, hoping for

another win against Manchester United. Here's Ashleigh Crowter. The

new Bluebirds boss made a dream start, winning his first match in

the FA Cup. Tomorrow, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer steps back into the

Premier League. He wasted little time in bringing in fellow Norwegian

Magnus Wolff?Eikrem, who could make his debut tomorrow in a significant

match at the bottom of the table. West Ham are one of only three clubs

below Cardiff. Three points would make a real difference to either

side. The Bluebirds will be boosted by the return of Craig Bellamy after

two months injured. Solskjaer says he is looking sharp in training and

he is trying to persuade Bellamy not to retire at the end of the season.

I just gave him my thoughts, play as long as you can. If you can play

football, and you feel that you can justify your performances, of

course, we want to get great performing. Swansea made history in

the cup last weekend, beating Manchester United at Old Trafford

for the first time in their history. Tomorrow, in the league, they will

try to do it again. You can say, from our point of view, it is

possible. We know it is possible, because they lost

day. After that, they lost again, the first

semifinal. I will expect a Man United team to come out and just be

they will go at us. In tomorrow's other matches, Newport County are

Wrexham host Halifax. Rugby - and the Scarlets are in

Paris tonight to take on Racing Metro in the Heineken Cup. They kick

off a busy weekend of European action - here are the other

fixtures. The Blues are away to Toulon tomorrow and on Sunday the

Ospreys, bottom of their group, face George North and his Northampton

team-mates. In the Amlin, the Dragons welcome Gavin Henson and

Bath to Rodney Parade. The Blues are the only region with a realistic

chance of progressing to the knockout stages - a win tomorrow

will move them above the reigning champions to the top of Pool two,

with just one game remaining. We have won two games, and we have got

the last two games with everything to play for. It is fantastic for us.

Hopefully the people of Wales and the people of this region are proud

of us. We have got an opportunity to progress further, but it is a tough

one. Live commentary of the Scarlets on Radio wales - and Sport Wales is

back tonight. Catch it from seven on BBC Two Wales. Have a great weekend

- that's it from me. The story of one of Wales' most

dramatic sea rescues will soon be on public display in Fishguard. A group

working to restore the 100-year-old Charterhouse Boat were given lottery

money today to help promote their cause. Abigail Neal went to meet

them. At more than one 100 years old, it's

incredible this boat is still in one piece. But she is a survivor. Her

history is so remarkable, it's not surprising that Fishgaurd wanted to

bring her home and tell her story. The Charterhouse was the town's

lifeboat from 1909 to 1931. At the time, she was state-of-the-art - the

first to be fitted with an engine. Technologically, she was one of the

earliest styles of boat, which was self-righting and motorised, with

sales, and 12 people rolling. Between one thing or the other, they

should get some propulsion. That it is a huge task, for a boat of this

size, for 12 people. During her service there was one rescue which

was to secure the Charterhouse and her men a place in history. Richard

Davies shows me the spot where a Dutch schooner dragged her anchor

and headed for Needle Rocks in 1920. The Charterhouse went to the rescue,

but her engine failed, and the mission turned dire. They were out

for seven hours. And that was in a howling

for seven hours. And that was in a down with ranger it was a horrendous

night. The conditions were down with ranger it was a horrendous

-- pouring down with rain. All but one of the Dutch crew were saved

that night. The Charterhouse men became heroes and travelled to

London with their lifeboat to be awarded bravery medals by the Prince

of Wales. Though the story of the brave men never faded, the

Charterhouse was eventually sold off to a family in north Wales, where it

stayed for 60 years. In 2009, a group of volunteers brought her home

and stripped her back. The plan is to restore her and put the

Charterhouse and her incredible story on public display at the new

visitors' centre planned for the Fishguard Marina development. Today,

the group were awarded nearly ?8,000 to promote their project - the hope

is they can now raise the one ?100,000 needed to complete the

Chaterhouse transformation. The storms that have battered

Aberystwyth over the past week have revealed the remains of the town's

earliest custom-built bathhouse, dating from the 19th-century. And

work will begin tomorrow on restoring a badly damaged seafront

shelter in Aberystwyth. The weather forecast has been vital for many of

you over the past week. It's 60 years since the first ever

television weatherman appeared on a British screen. Derek has been

trawling through the archives. Yes, 60 years since the first weatherman

appeared on a British screen. And a lot has changed in that time, from

drawings on charts to this, the latest 3D graphics. So I've been

trawling through the archives to see how we've reported the weather over

the years. This was the first ever weatherman on television. Before

this it was just an anonymous hand drawing isobars onto a map while a

voice read the forecast. But in Wales, the weather forecaster didn't

appear for many years. So in the extremes of the heatwave of 1976,

when there was a drought, to the snow storms of February 1978, it was

down to the reporters to keep an eye on the weather. Peter Walker was

working when the blizzard of '78 hit. I was called in to come and be

the only reporter available, and I was given this jacket to go out and

fight the elements, as it were. It was Pat and myself. We were the only

two men who could actually broadcast, in a sense, and so there

we were, out in the snow, most to our knees. In 1975, the BBC

introduced magnetic weather symbols - luckily before my time, as they

were a little tricky. Satellite pictures were introduced in 1979,

and 1985 saw pictures were introduced in 1979,

rubber weather forecast. So, by the time I

rubber weather forecast. So, by the even if I was more low-key. Rather

cloudy at the moment... So from drawing charts on a map to

cloudy at the moment... So from lot over the years, to what we have

now - state-of- the-art 3D graphics, which are a lot more accurate at

predicting our sometimes wild weather. A bit like my outifts.

And even the First Minister has tried his hand at it. Top

temperatures, 30 degrees. So in 60 years, rain or shine, it seems the

weather has gone on to become a national obsession.

The weather has been a big talking point recently, but good news - we

are for some nice weather this weekend. Saturday the best day. Dry

with plenty of sunshine. But watch out for ice if you're travelling.

And it's not going to stay dry all weekend! This evening, cloudy with

rain. This will gradually clear with a dry end to the night. Temperatures

inland falling close to freezing with a touch of frost. And the Met

Office has issued a warning of ice. With a lot of standing water from

the recent wet weather and flooding, icy stretches are expected,

especially on untreated roads. Tomorrow's chart shows a ridge of

high pressure over southern Britain. This low pressure over the Atlantic

will bring us some wind and rain on Sunday. Here's the picture for eight

in the morning. Cold, with a touch of frost inland and a risk of icy

patches. One or two mist and fog patches as well, otherwise dry and

fairly clear. Temperatures a little higher on the coast with a breeze

off the sea. So some decent weather tomorrow. A few clouds, but dry and

bright with plenty of sunshine. Good visibility, too. Top temperatures

around six or seven Celsius. The wind, falling. In Ceredigion, dry

tomorrow with sunny spells. The temperature in Lampeter rising to

six Celsius. And a nice day in Flintshire tomorrow - dry with

sunshine. A high of six in Connah's Quay. Tomorrow night, dry and cold

with some frost and ice. Mist and fog patches as well. However, the

wind will start to pick up later in the night, especially in the west.

Sunday will start dry but it won't last. Rain will spread from the west

during the afternoon. A spell of heavy rain, but it should clear by

during the afternoon. A spell of midnight. Temperatures

during the afternoon. A spell of Celsius, but windy with a

during the afternoon. A spell of gusty south-east wind. Next week,

mixed. Some dry weather and sunshine on Monday and Tuesday. A few showers

as well. Rain Tuesday night. More on Monday and Tuesday. A few showers

rain or heavy showers on Wednesday. on Monday and Tuesday. A few showers

This time 32 years ago, most of Wales was recovering from a blizzard

back in January Wales was recovering from a blizzard

there's no sign of Wales was recovering from a blizzard

weather or heavy snow heading our way. And that goes for the rest of

January. Finally, our picture tonight is from Arfon Parry. Sunrise

in Ruthin. Thanks, Arfon. Enjoy the dry weather and sunshine tomorrow if

you can. There is more rain on the way on Sunday afternoon. Tonight's

headlines, a police officer who claimed to have witnessed the

so-called Plebgate row in Downing Street has admitted lying. The

incident led to Andrew Mitchell resigning from his job as Chief

Whip. In Wales, the number of patients waiting longer than they

should have for diagnostic services has more than trebled in the last

two years. Figures show 23,000 patience were waiting longer than

eight weeks. There is more on our website... I'll be back at eight,

and again after the BBC News at Ten. That's Wales Today. From all of us

here, have a great weekend.