11/07/2014 BBC Wales Today

And that is all from us. There is more throughout the evening on the

Thousands of families could miss out on claiming back money they

shouldn't have paid for health care for their loved ones

The dramatic rescue of a nine-year-old girl - stuck

The young volunteer who saved her says time was of the essence.

We had to get her out as quick as we could.

Pupil power - schoolchildren march on Wrexham

Council asking for its employees to be paid the living wage.

Another twist in Welsh rugby - the four regions offer the Welsh Rugby

And he's our most successful Olympian - two statues are unveiled

Families who paid for care fees that should have been

funded by the NHS have until the end of this month to reclaim the money.

Tonight there have been calls to extend that deadline

amid warnings that thousands of families in Wales could miss out.

It costs ?278 million a year to provide continuing health

?50 million has already been paid out.

Eileen Puc had to be cared for in a nursing home until she died in 2009.

She was immobile after suffering from three strokes and she was

severely diabetic but she was told that her health needs were not great

enough for the NHS to pay for her fees so she was forced to

Mrs Puc's brother-in-law battled to get that decision

overturned but only after three appeals and two upheld complaints to

A process that he describes as traumatic.

I asked them on one occasion, how ill does one have to be to

These people cannot look after themselves anymore

They paid their taxes and their National Insurance contributions

and were never a burden to society and when it came to their case,

for them to be looked after, they had to pay for themselves.

If, like Mrs Puc, someone is receiving care

for a health need - either in a nursing home or in their own

But many are unaware of the funding or are wrongly denied the money when

they are assessed - potentially leading to a retrospective appeal.

And now, thousands of people are at risk of missing the deadline to

reclaim fees as the Welsh Government says that claims must be made at the

end of this month for care received between April 2003 and July 2013.

The government was expecting 3,000 applicants but

so far only 29 have come forward with only two weeks left to apply.

It's crucial that people know that the deadline is looming.

They need to have all the right information to know

whether this information applies to them and whether they will be due

Unfortunately, this deadline hasn't been publicised

as widely as we would like to see it and it's also been

The Welsh Government strongly rejects the claims.

As part of a publicity campaign, it's given posters and leaflets to

It's also put the information online.

It is quite clear the publicity campaign hasn't worked and that is

why we need to see an extension of the deadline by at least three

months, so that the families have the opportunity to make their

claims. Professor Dame June Clark is

a member of the Royal Commission on long term care

and former professor of community So many of the assessments were not

appealed and then in many cases the decision was overturned. That shows

how flawed the system of continuing health care is. It is true that the

deadline is a problem but I see that as only a symptom of the underlying

problem. Our families are aware of this? I think not enough of them

are. You have to recognise in a way it is in the interests of the NHS,

which should be giving people as much in formation as possible. It is

in their interest is that people don't apply because the more people

that are deemed eligible to receive continuing health care, the greater

the bill to the NHS. The annual cost for health boards is 278 million so

we are looking at a small fraction of the annual cost. It is a hell of

a loss of money for an individual family. There are issues that make

me angry-the banks and the suffering that families applying for health

and advice is to go through. The other thing that makes me really

angry is the waste of money that there is an running a bureaucratic,

complicated system, when that money could and should have been spent on

providing the correct care that people need. What changes should be

put in place? The first one is what Scotland has done and what England

is talking about giving, which is instead of having separate budget

for health and social care, they should be confined to pool budgets

and the reason for that is that continuing health care is, in my

opinion, not about assessing peoples needs but it is about cost shunting.

The whole system of assessments to cost the device, that is a waste of

money. Thank you very much. And if you need anymore information

on this story, That number is 08000 223 444,

where you can ask for a free copy That information is also

on the website - that address is It has to be a parent's

worst nightmare - thankfully A nine-year-old schoolgirl, playing

hide-and-seek, got wedged between giant rocks as the tide was coming

in at Aberaeron near Aberystwyth. With the lifeboat crew struggling to

find a way to free her, the youngest team member, just 17,

had to squeeze himself between the rocks and submerge

himself in water to free her. Lucy, these are the folks were the

nine-year-old girl got stuck last night. You can see these are massive

boulders, weighing between five and six tonnes in weight. When the RNLI

came here, they realised it was a race against the clock. This

dramatic footage shows the urgency of the rescue for the RNLI. A

nine-year-old girl, Eira, got stuck. She slipped while playing hide and

seek. Tom, can you fit down their? Take the stuff off. Take your life

jacket off... The only way to free her was to send the youngest crew

member in to cut off her Wellington boot. 17-year-old Thom Evans was on

his first call-out. If you don't think you can do it, don't do it.

Slide in and cut off her Wellington boot. It was a tough situation to go

through. Tough for your first call-out. What was going through

your mind? Remap the first thing that went through my mind is, this

is quite a serious scenario for her to be in and I have to do this. The

tide is coming in thick. We decided to try and get in and out as fast as

we could with her free and safe. Joe Perry welly as much as you can. The

urgency of the call-out can be seen from this footage. Within an hour,

the girl would have been underwater. I will get down the back. The front

is the problem. With some quick thinking, Eira was freed. The

nine-year-old helped make this a successful rescue by staying calm.

Well done, Tom. Well done. This dramatic rescue made sure that an

innocent game of hide and Seek didn't end in tragedy. Joyous scenes

in the video when Eira was actually released from these rocks. She has

been back to school today and she is safe and well. The crew members have

spoken to her parents, who are wakeful. Eira is planning to give

them a gift and a card and to say thank you. She will be eternally

thankful from being saved from these rocks and the incoming tide.

A man found guilty of shooting his estranged wife after she left him

for another man has been jailed for life, with the judge recommending he

Newport Crown Court heard how 50-year-old Christopher Parry shot

Caroline Parry twice in the back before turning

Sentencing him the judge said he accepted he'd been

suffering a significant depressive illness at the time.

The Conservative MP for Monmouth David Davies has called

on the UK Government to solve problems surrounding the issuing

of passports following an increasing number of complaints

It comes a month after a row broke out over delays to

Home Secretary Theresa May denied there was a crisis, but said there

A 38-year-old woman has appeared before Cardiff Crown Court accused

of seven charges of possessing and distributing indecent images

The charges against Joanne Mjadzelics from Doncaster

followed an investigation into singer Ian Watkins.

She pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.

Developments in the world of Welsh rugby this afternoon.

The future of Welsh rugby has been thrown deeper into doubt.

Regional Rugby Wales has insisted the new proposed agreement

for the future of the game is ?completely unacceptable? to them.

It's also emerged the four rugby regions have written

to the Welsh Rugby Union offering to take them over.

BBC Wales has seen a copy of the letter, in which

the regions also consider their options over international players.

Gareth Lewis has been following the story - another twist and a

And other that the union are unlikely to take up, giving

financial considerations on both sides. It is financial crunch time

for the regions. Usually they would expect a payment from the WRU at

this time of year but they haven't had it because there is no agreement

between the two at the moment. The old deal ran out at the end of last

month and both sides are locked in talks. It has been going on for

months. The regions are now saying they would like this sorted by the

18th of July, a week today. There seems to be some disagreement about

the likely that is to be. As we understand it the union thinks it is

achievable but the regions saying it is completely unacceptable. The WRU

say they are disappointed. Where does this leave the players? A

really good question and that is where it gets interesting. We have

seen documents that showing in a number of options -- show a number

of options. It concerns release of players for international duty.

Without it, regions are considering what they should do. Among those

options are going to the their minimum in terms of their relief,

and releasing players for five days before a Wales match, which is the

minimum. Also withholding players from the extra forth into autumn

international, this year against South Africa. At the extreme end of

the scale, if things continue without agreement, the possibility

of off-loading players, including their top Wales, to cut their cloth

accordingly. Neither side is very keen on viewing the 18th of July as

a deadline but I think, inevitably, as this runs, there will be a lot of

focus on a week today to see if agreement can be found.

What are the chances of the agreement?

I would the happier predict the winner of the World Cup- Germany!

Competing in the River Taff in 1925 - two statues commemorate

the man who's been described as Wales' forgotten sporting hero.

And motorbike racing with no brakes - we have a go ahead of this

Schoolchildren have met the leader of Wrexham council to ask

for its employees to be paid at least the Living Wage.

The students, from St Joseph's School, have been

working with a local charity to raise awareness of the issue.

At the moment, the minimum wage is ?6.31 an hour.

It's calculated by experts who've assessed what's needed to cover

the basic cost of living, and works out as ?15,500 a year.

With the details, here's Matthew Richards.

These 12 and 13-year-old students might seem

young to be concerned with how much adults earn but some have parents

who are earning the legal minimum and are struggling to provide.

Their school has been working with a Wrexham charity to learn

about the issues and to call on Wrexham council to join other public

and private sector institutions to pay the ?7.65 an hour wage.

They know their families don't want to be reliant on food banks. It is

about having a level of respect. These pupils are aged 12 and 13 but

they are aware of those families. They haven't got enough to keep

their family going and they have to go on benefits, which will cost the

council more. I have got personal friends whose parents are suffering

and have got more than one job. Don't think that is fair because

they don't get to see their parents. What do the rest of us know about

it? I think it makes sense, living in Wrexham where there are lots of

people on a very low pay. Zero hours contracts and so on. They suffer. It

is a struggle for France but I think they have to find other ways in

order to provide the living wage. Some small firms say they would find

it hard to meet the higher level Economic aid, it is suicidal for

small businesses as they are in the process of building their businesses

and cannot afford extra overheads. Wrexham's council leader told us he

agreed to meet some pupils as part of a school project

but was concerned many more were involved in the march

and being used for political gain. TCC, which organised it,

says parents were informed of the event and given the option to

excuse their children, none did. Pupils will now wait to hear whether

the council decides to pay up. A charity which helps young people

in Wales have their say on Welsh politics has warned it faces closure

after losing its funding. Funky Dragon,

the Youth Assembly for Wales, includes youngsters elected from

each local council area to discuss The Welsh Government, which provides

the funding, says its grants will support other organisations offering

a similar service. New rules setting-out the way public

bodies offer services in Welsh need to be flexible enough to reflect

the different levels of Welsh spoken That's according to the leader

of Gwynedd Council Dyfed Edwards, who's been negotiating on behalf of

councils with the Welsh Government The First Minister will

respond next week. Back to Claire now for the rest

of the day's sport. He was Britain's most successful

Olympian until a certain Sir Steve Redgrave won

his fifth gold medal in 2000. But little is known of

Cardiff-born Paulo Radmilovic. Today two statues of the swimmer

were unveiled in Swansea. He may have lost

his British crown after 80 years but Paulo Radmilovic is still

Wales' most successful Olympian. Between 1908 and 1928 he competed in

five Games, winning four gold medals Today his achievements were

celebrated in Swansea as two statues of Wales' first gold

medallist were unveiled at the LC. One of his team-mates from the 1928

Olympics was my very first coach, so we did have the links going back

then. It has inspired us all to train hard and train hard and get as

far into the sport as we can be. These statues were made

for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad Exhibition but they've been

in storage since the tour finished. They've now been brought here to

Swansea to inspire Raddy, as he was known, was raised

in the Tiger Bay area of Cardiff by He began swimming in the city's

rivers and canals at an early age. He won a gold for winning the swim

in the Fire Gardens, the annual swim. You think, so what? You read

on the bowl, in very tiny lettering, it says, winner of the swim - Paulo

matchwinner vetch -- Paulo red mini pitch, aged eight years.

And here he is competing in the river Taff nearly 30 years

He's since been described as our forgotten sporting hero.

Now it's hoped this swimmer's story and his achievements will

One of the biggest events in British motorsport comes to Wales this

The Millennium Stadium's hosting the British Speedway Grand Prix, where

the top riders will be hitting speeds of up to 80mph, and all this

Our reporter Victoria Turner had to summon up all her courage

It's racing at its most raw. Last year's Speedway Grand Prix shows

just how exciting and how dangerous the sport can be. The bikes have no

brakes and riders approach the corners at speeds of more than 70

mph. Often shoulder to shoulder with their rivals. The event is back at

the millennium date him this weekend for the 14th year in a row. It is

the big event. We refer to it as our Monaco. Writers and fans believe

this is the big one for them. People come from all over the world and

they put this date in their diary at the start of the year. This is where

the whales were eating normally change for big matches. But this

weekend, it is where the top speedway riders will be putting

their leathers on. Thankfully, I had a good teacher - a speedway legend

and three times world champion. What is the thing I should remember to

do? You should remember to be careful and when I let this out, use

your throttle. My father they used to say use your throttle. Go steady

on that. Good luck. After a couple of false starts I

finally get a taste of what the riders will see as they fly round

the track for the top it is quite an intense experience, even at a gentle

speed. The noise, the dust and the knowledge you've only got your feet

and the engine to slow down. Now you can get the feeling what it is to go

around. Fantastic. The riders are very skilful. We called on bikes for

the top The record for competing for lack of the track is 54 seconds. My

time was considerably slimmer. A potential crowd of more than 60,000

people can look forward to watching the real experts on race night. It

has been seven years as a British rider won at the millennium

Stadium. Fans hope that will be the night.

Glamorgan's cricketers are back in Twenty20 Blast action this evening.

They're at the Oval to take on Surrey.

Live coverage on Radio Wales Sport from 7:00pm

Sue, will it stay fine for the weekend?

It's been another mostly fine day for Wales, and humid.

Warmest further east - Usk the hotspot at 26C.

24 in Newbridge on Wye and Presteigne.

Then the weekend starts off humid with some sunny spells

further east but rain pushing in from the west through Saturday.

Clearing early Sunday to leave a brighter but fresher day.

A fine evening for most, with clear spells.

Cloud could be thick enough for the odd spot

of drizzle overnight - some coastal mist and hill fog forming but

otherwise dry and mild at 10-15 Celsius.

We can see from the pressure chart that it goes downhill

from tomorrow - these fronts push in from the Atlantic, bringing a more

It should be fine at first tomorrow further east with sunny spells

before thicker cloud and mainly patchy rain push in from the west.

Not huge amounts but the potential for some heavier

As that front moves eastwards winds pick up too.

Not as warm further west - 17 Celsius in Pembrokeshire

and remaining humid further east at 21 in Wrexham and Flintshire.

That front continues to moves eastwards Saturday night

The rain easing slowly but remaining cloudy and very mild

overnight, with temperatures staying in the mid teens.

Then those early showers will clear on Sunday, turning into a brighter

but breezier day with more in the way of sunshine by the afternoon.

Still fairly warm at 17 to 20 but a fresher feel as we lose that

Then as one weather systems clears eastwards another one pushes in

from the Atlantic - to bring further rain on Monday.

So the weekend starts humid with sunshine and shower rain clearing

That slightly fresher but more changeable regime

for the start of next week but then signs of things turning noticeably

warmer from midweek onwards, with heat building from the south-west.

Today's photo is from Gerwyn Gibbs from Mountain Ash,

taken at a very breezy but fairly sunny Elan Valley in Powys.

Don't forget, you can send your pictures. Especially if they help to

tell a weather story. It's almost 7 o'clock

the main news again from the BBC: Families who paid

for care fees that should have been funded by the NHS have until the end

of this month to reclaim the money. Tonight there have been calls

to extend that deadline. The Welsh Government say that there

has been A nine-year-old schoolgirl who got

wedged between giant rocks near Aberystwyth has been pulled to

safety by the RNLI. The youngest team member, just 17, had to squeeze

himself between the rocks and submerge himself in the water to

free her. She will meet her rescuers tomorrow to say thank you.

And the future of Welsh rugby has been thrown

Regional Rugby Wales has insisted the new proposed agreement

for the future of the game is 'completely unacceptable' to them.

It's also emerged the four rugby regions have written

to the Welsh Rugby Union offering them the chance to take them over.

And that is Wales Today. A quick update at 8pm and more after the BBC

News at 10pm. From all of us on the programme, had a good evening and

great weekend. Goodbye.