:00:00. > :00:00.other news on the BBC News Channel, and on our website, but that is all
:00:00. > :00:00.for now. Ruth Lewis has deep concerns
:00:00. > :00:09.about her late husband's healthcare. Now calls for those who have private
:00:10. > :00:12.treatment to have the same rights The overall A-Level pass rate is
:00:13. > :00:19.down, but Wales narrows the gap with
:00:20. > :00:34.England. I am going to Sheffield University.
:00:35. > :00:37.I did not think I would do it but they did.
:00:38. > :00:40.A court is told how charity boss Naz Malik used the organisation's
:00:41. > :00:42.limited funds to pay for his wife's life insurance.
:00:43. > :00:51.Prices continue to rise but the demand for new homes is slowing.
:00:52. > :00:57.It is plain sailing here as yet another world-class boating
:00:58. > :01:07.competition comes to Cardigan Bay. Who do you complain to when the
:01:08. > :01:12.healthcare you receive goes wrong? Tonight there are calls
:01:13. > :01:14.for those who pay for private healthcare to be given
:01:15. > :01:19.the same rights as NHS patients. At the moment if you are treated
:01:20. > :01:22.on the NHS you can turn to the Ombudsman who will investigate
:01:23. > :01:26.independently and impartially. But that is not the case
:01:27. > :01:28.for private patients. With many patients now opting
:01:29. > :01:31.for private treatment, the Welsh India Pollock has this
:01:32. > :01:47.exclusive report. rugby player and jazz musician.
:01:48. > :01:50.Peter Lewis from Pontarddulais led a full and happy life.
:01:51. > :01:57.But in 2010 he needed knee replacement surgery and because of a
:01:58. > :02:01.long waiting list on the NHS he was advised to go to the private Spire
:02:02. > :02:06.Hospital in Cardiff After being discharged from hospital he became
:02:07. > :02:10.unwell and was rushed into his local hospital for a blood transfusion.
:02:11. > :02:13.But Peter never recovered and passed away.
:02:14. > :02:16.Although he had other medical problems, his wife Ruth believes
:02:17. > :02:20.there were failures in the care her husband received at Spire Hospital.
:02:21. > :02:22.She's been pursuing a complaint against the hospital
:02:23. > :02:25.and surgeon who operated on her husband but more than three
:02:26. > :02:34.and a half years on from Peter's death, it is still not resolved.
:02:35. > :02:45.It is as if time has stood still. I am overwhelmed with the complaint
:02:46. > :02:50.process and with reliving the concerns and fears I had at the
:02:51. > :02:57.time. Each time a letter report comes through, you go back to square
:02:58. > :03:09.one and you live it again. It torments you.
:03:10. > :03:10.death, it is still not resolved. There are
:03:11. > :03:12.around 130 registered private healthcare providers in Wales,
:03:13. > :03:14.offering services from cosmetic surgery to mental healthcare.
:03:15. > :03:17.The organisation that represents them says the complaints procedure
:03:18. > :03:24.its robust and is similar to the process given to NHS patients.
:03:25. > :03:31.They were not believe an independent sector will look properly and
:03:32. > :03:32.investigate properly any of their own members. They want something
:03:33. > :03:37.independent. the process given to NHS patients.
:03:38. > :03:44.As it stands the independent sector is supposed to investigate itself.
:03:45. > :03:46.In a statement Spire Hospital says its saddened by Peter Lewis' death
:03:47. > :03:48.and the welfare of patients is their top priority.
:03:49. > :03:51.Managers have been in close contact with Ruth Lewis to
:03:52. > :03:53.help resolve her concerns, but it would be inappropriate to
:03:54. > :03:55.comment further until their investigation is completed.
:03:56. > :04:01.Now Wales' Ombudsman charged with answering complaints about the NHS
:04:02. > :04:04.agrees change is needed. Well, I think it's really important
:04:05. > :04:08.that any investigation system is impartial, so we should be
:04:09. > :04:11.investigating to make sure that we get to the nub of the problem
:04:12. > :04:18.and that no one can turn around and accuse anyone of having bias.
:04:19. > :04:20.The Welsh Government says it has no current plans to review the role
:04:21. > :04:23.of the Ombudsman. As Ruth shares memories of happier
:04:24. > :04:24.times with her grandchildren, her battle for answers
:04:25. > :04:29.about what went wrong will go on. Thousands of students across Wales
:04:30. > :04:31.have been getting their A-level results and for the first time
:04:32. > :04:34.in five years, the number of people here achieving the highest
:04:35. > :04:38.A-level grades has risen. Wales has also narrowed the gap with
:04:39. > :04:40.England but the overall pass rate in Wales
:04:41. > :04:44.has fallen slightly. Our Education Correspondent Arwyn
:04:45. > :04:54.Jones reports. It is the culmination of the best
:04:55. > :05:01.part of 15 years of education. It is the culmination of the best
:05:02. > :05:06.were some neighbour -- nervous faces across schools and colleges today.
:05:07. > :05:13.Students here mostly celebrated their success. For all that hard
:05:14. > :05:23.work to pay off is the best feeling in the world. It was really good. I
:05:24. > :05:26.am going to Sheffield University. I got an a in maths and they did not
:05:27. > :05:33.think I would do it. The number of pupils gaining a Stargate was up to
:05:34. > :05:40.6.7% this year. There has also been an increase in those getting top
:05:41. > :05:48.grades, ending four years of steady decline. But the proportion getting
:05:49. > :05:53.the top rate has fallen slightly. I am very pleased this morning but we
:05:54. > :05:57.are seeing a good incremental progress across the board in terms
:05:58. > :06:01.of results. We are heading in the right direction. And some very
:06:02. > :06:05.important elements of that show progress in the right direction.
:06:06. > :06:11.These two had the grades they were hoping for. They also refused any
:06:12. > :06:15.claim that exams are getting easier. I did not do them years ago so maybe
:06:16. > :06:21.they are getting easier. But you have to work hard to get the top
:06:22. > :06:28.grade. I agree. The exams are still hard. We did not do them years ago
:06:29. > :06:31.so maybe they were harder for top but they would still say to get the
:06:32. > :06:39.top grade, you have to work really hard.
:06:40. > :06:41.top grade, you have to work really outperform boys apart from at the
:06:42. > :06:52.highest grade with just over 98% outperform boys apart from at the
:06:53. > :06:56.getting a start to the grades. Boys are only a head of girls at the very
:06:57. > :07:01.top grade. This is a feature of England and Wales. It seems a
:07:02. > :07:05.permanent feature also I am sure schools and colleges are very much
:07:06. > :07:12.aware of this. Every effort is made to our strategies which to promote
:07:13. > :07:19.the outcomes for boys. Pupils celebrated success, throughout with
:07:20. > :07:25.more pupils chose to study chemistry, economics and history.
:07:26. > :07:29.For the first time in over 50 years, there has been a drop in the numbers
:07:30. > :07:34.getting the top grade in England for top our students are catching up.
:07:35. > :07:40.Wales is now on the right track. Plenty of reasons for these students
:07:41. > :07:46.to celebrate tonight. Welcome to Swansea University and the clearing
:07:47. > :07:48.to celebrate tonight. Welcome to department. Students
:07:49. > :07:53.to celebrate tonight. Welcome to phoning up this centre to confirm
:07:54. > :08:01.spaces and others have been phoning in case they have done better than
:08:02. > :08:02.they have not done as well as they hoped but can they still get on the
:08:03. > :08:05.course. hoped but can they still get on the
:08:06. > :08:15.are still going. On hoped but can they still get on the
:08:16. > :08:21.the man in charge. Just in hoped but can they still get on the
:08:22. > :08:26.today? It has been extremely busy put up it has
:08:27. > :08:31.today? It has been extremely busy ever. In terms of the standards and
:08:32. > :08:33.qualities of the applications, are you still accepting the same kind of
:08:34. > :08:38.grades you have over the last few you still accepting the same kind of
:08:39. > :08:45.years or is the demand going down Chris Knight the demand is still
:08:46. > :08:48.there and it is still very high. We know that today as well as the
:08:49. > :08:52.A-level results coming in, we have seen the Welsh baccalaureate
:08:53. > :08:57.successes coming in with more people sitting those exams and passing
:08:58. > :09:03.them. What do you see in terms of the quality of applications coming?
:09:04. > :09:07.We are seeing an increase in applications which include the Welsh
:09:08. > :09:16.baccalaureate. What we are seeing is very good. The Welsh Government pays
:09:17. > :09:21.the majority of these for the Welsh students at you do then rely on
:09:22. > :09:29.English students coming in with ?9,000 fees. How is that working
:09:30. > :09:35.out? We are a UK based organisation. We are happy to see increases from
:09:36. > :09:40.both our domiciles. We are seeing a lot of incentives being offered,
:09:41. > :09:46.tablet computers, membership of gymnasiums, are you taking part in
:09:47. > :09:52.that? Now, we have focused on the key issues for students in terms of
:09:53. > :09:56.accommodation, financial support packages and the academic support
:09:57. > :10:02.packages and the overall satisfaction. Thank you very much
:10:03. > :10:08.for your time this evening. Students and prospective A-level student will
:10:09. > :10:15.be celebrating this evening. If you hours left for these on their shift.
:10:16. > :10:17.The man who killed five-year-old April Jones is seeking compensation
:10:18. > :10:21.for injuries after he was slashed on the face by a fellow inmate.
:10:22. > :10:24.Mark Bridger was jailed for life in May last year for murder, and
:10:25. > :10:27.BBC Wales understands the Ministry of Justice is contesting the claim
:10:28. > :10:32.Today's heavy rain has caused flash flooding in many parts of Wales.
:10:33. > :10:35.Sandbags have been requested to save some properties from the rising
:10:36. > :10:39.water, while rail services between Radyr and Pontypridd
:10:40. > :10:47.have been suspended because of a landslip near Taffs Well.
:10:48. > :10:51.A woman died on the M4 this morning, after she was hit while walking
:10:52. > :10:55.The woman, who hasn't been named was struck by a lorry at Llangyfelach
:10:56. > :10:59.There were five mile delays on the eastbound carriageway of the M4
:11:00. > :11:06.A jury has heard how a charity was in financial difficulty at exactly
:11:07. > :11:09.the same time as its chief executive was making arrangements
:11:10. > :11:13.for the organisation to pay for a life assurance policy for his wife.
:11:14. > :11:16.Nasir Malik is accused of behaving dishonestly by getting the All
:11:17. > :11:20.Wales Ethnic Minority Association to cover a personal expense.
:11:21. > :11:30.Cemlyn Davies was at Swansea Crown Court.
:11:31. > :11:40.The all Wales are like a nasty association was set up in 2000 with
:11:41. > :11:43.a few to promoting equality. Census figures showed that the percentage
:11:44. > :11:50.of the Welsh publishing coming from ethnic minorities rose from just
:11:51. > :11:55.over 2% in 2001 to 4.4% ten years later. The charity 's objectives
:11:56. > :12:01.including developing the skills of communities, producing educational
:12:02. > :12:06.materials and raising awareness of discrimination. But in early 2008,
:12:07. > :12:12.it was in financial difficulty with the treasured telling Swansea Crown
:12:13. > :12:15.Court some members of staff were told their contracts would not be
:12:16. > :12:21.renewed. Others were asked to take a pay cut. The Chief Executive was
:12:22. > :12:26.making enquiries about a life assurance policy which was
:12:27. > :12:31.eventually taken out for his wife. The Julie has heard how that was
:12:32. > :12:38.paid dishonestly by monthly direct debit payments from the charities
:12:39. > :12:46.bank accounts over a period of four years. His salary at the time was
:12:47. > :12:56.more than ?52,000. He claims the life assurance policy was in fact
:12:57. > :13:01.part of his pension arrangement. The is also accused of fraudulently
:13:02. > :13:07.using the sound blank cheques in order to reduce his personal debts.
:13:08. > :13:12.He claims the payment totalling nearly ?12,000 was to cover
:13:13. > :13:18.expenses. In court today, the finance director said both cheques
:13:19. > :13:22.were written without the appropriate expenses documents being provided
:13:23. > :13:27.first. He added one of the cheques was taken without his knowledge.
:13:28. > :13:32.Cross examining the witness, the barrister suggested he was not
:13:33. > :13:35.telling the whole truth. He denies three counts of fraud and the trial
:13:36. > :13:37.continues. They've swapped the warm climate of
:13:38. > :13:40.Thailand for Wales. Young sailors from across the
:13:41. > :13:43.globe take on the elements and each other in the waters off
:13:44. > :13:46.Pwllheli. And dramatic weather
:13:47. > :13:47.in places today. Torrential rain, hail,
:13:48. > :13:50.thunder and flash flooding. Demand for new homes
:13:51. > :14:03.in Wales is beginning to slow down, That's according to
:14:04. > :14:07.the latest report from the Royal But they also say house prices here
:14:08. > :14:12.are continuing to rise and there's strong demand
:14:13. > :14:15.from first-time buyers. The average house in Wales is now
:14:16. > :14:20.around ?140,000 but in the capital, homes cost significantly more
:14:21. > :14:29.as Nick Palit reports. The buoyancy of the housing market,
:14:30. > :14:32.as ever, depends on which part of the country you are in, and what
:14:33. > :14:35.kind of property you are selling. Cardiff remains the most expensive
:14:36. > :14:43.part of Wales, where the average house is now in excess of ?213,000.
:14:44. > :14:47.We have had a message from the surveyors and they would like to do
:14:48. > :14:50.a survey. house is now in excess of ?213,000.
:14:51. > :14:52.But even at that price, this estate agency says demand
:14:53. > :14:54.by first time buyers is exceeding the supply of three bedroom semis
:14:55. > :15:05.in the Welsh capital. It is the aspiration of a forbidden
:15:06. > :15:09.to all a property. People would like to move up to purchasing and
:15:10. > :15:12.implement position is improving and that is helping.
:15:13. > :15:15.in the Welsh capital. And these are the kind of
:15:16. > :15:17.properties that are selling well. Terraced homes at Penarth
:15:18. > :15:18.in the Vale of Glamorgan which, at around ?180,000,
:15:19. > :15:27.are around the UK average price. These have all been refurbished and
:15:28. > :15:32.that the envelope scheme which the council did a few years ago. There
:15:33. > :15:36.are a lot of first-time buyers looking for this sort of property.
:15:37. > :15:38.Normally, these were just fly out through the door and be sold within
:15:39. > :15:42.a few weeks. are around the UK average price.
:15:43. > :15:44.But what about the other end of the market with luxury homes like
:15:45. > :15:56.this close to a million pounds? This is a sort after type of
:15:57. > :15:59.property. You have the tariffs on the front and a lot of character on
:16:00. > :16:08.the inside with wooden panelling and eight nice garden and a real quality
:16:09. > :16:11.house in probably around 1900. Common-sense says if the bottom end
:16:12. > :16:17.of the market is moving, it will move through the various price
:16:18. > :16:22.ranges and those people who are now selling at ?700,000 will be the
:16:23. > :16:27.people who can afford the houses at 900,000 or ?1 million. At the
:16:28. > :16:30.moment, they have not got to this end of the market.
:16:31. > :16:31.this close to a million pounds? And in neighbouring Cardiff,
:16:32. > :16:40.that's already started to happen. Taking place at that level but it
:16:41. > :16:41.has not happened for the last four years.
:16:42. > :16:45.that's already started to happen. Overall the survey by the RICS says
:16:46. > :16:47.prices are projected to rise by around 2.6% over the next 12 months.
:16:48. > :16:50.Coupled with continued low interests rates, estate agents here say
:16:51. > :16:54.the recovery in the housing market is now well and truly established.
:16:55. > :16:57.A schoolgirl at the centre of an alleged murder plot against
:16:58. > :16:59.a teacher will not be charged in connection with the matter.
:17:00. > :17:02.The teenager was 14 when she was arrested at
:17:03. > :17:05.Cwmcarn High School on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.
:17:06. > :17:08.Gwent Police say another girl from Newbridge, arrested at the same
:17:09. > :17:14.Demonstrators from the No NATO Newport group have
:17:15. > :17:17.apologised for planning a camp in the Pill area of Newport
:17:18. > :17:23.People there expressed unhappiness at the plans to use playing fields
:17:24. > :17:29.Tredegar Park will now host the camp instead.
:17:30. > :17:31.The Television presenter and adventurer Bear Grylls,
:17:32. > :17:34.who's seeking planning permission to build a harbour at St Tudwal's
:17:35. > :17:38.island off Abersoch, says he's come-up with a compromise.
:17:39. > :17:40.Mr Grylls says he's now altering the plans after visiting
:17:41. > :17:42.the island with officers from Natural Resources Wales.
:17:43. > :17:46.Last year, he removed a large slide off the island after being
:17:47. > :18:02.It is a spectacular area and we would open to threaten the
:18:03. > :18:07.conservation. It is great to spend time appear with the local authority
:18:08. > :18:13.and Natural Resources Wales. I've seen -- as soon as you see people
:18:14. > :18:15.face-to-face, you can come up with a compromise plan. It keeps them
:18:16. > :18:17.happy. Hundreds of young sailors
:18:18. > :18:19.from across the globe have been fighting it out
:18:20. > :18:22.in the waters off Pwllheli as part The topper class sees under 18s
:18:23. > :18:26.in small dinghys complete It's a world class location
:18:27. > :18:33.and it's seen some world class Pwllheli is about to get a brand
:18:34. > :18:39.new multi millionpound sailing academy but this event is already
:18:40. > :18:52.proof that it's a cut above. After a few days they're sailing had
:18:53. > :18:56.to wait for the weather, the conditions were perfect for three
:18:57. > :19:04.races getting the best junior sailors against the elements and
:19:05. > :19:10.each other. It is really competitive. Last year was not quite
:19:11. > :19:14.as competitive because the fleet was not as strong as this year it has
:19:15. > :19:19.been really good. It is not just a platform for Welsh entrants. The 150
:19:20. > :19:22.young sailors from different countries including Thailand and
:19:23. > :19:31.South Africa taking place, for this week, these are international
:19:32. > :19:35.waters. These two come from Thailand. They were taught sailing
:19:36. > :19:46.by a charity. Clothing and equipment has been donated by friends and even
:19:47. > :19:51.rival sailors. The water is warm and suddenly they have come here and
:19:52. > :19:57.having to put all these clothes on. The water is very cold. It was a
:19:58. > :20:00.shock for them. The week is almost over and wants the prizes have been
:20:01. > :20:05.awarded, the visitors will drift away. But they will be a sailing
:20:06. > :20:13.showcase on the weekend to promote the link between the marina and the
:20:14. > :20:17.town. It is not a closed event. We have been concentrating a lot on the
:20:18. > :20:22.top as for the last couple of weeks. They will be leaving on Friday night
:20:23. > :20:26.after the prize-giving. The want to show what we have two the people of
:20:27. > :20:31.the town and area. This time next year, a new national sailing Academy
:20:32. > :20:38.will be able to train sailors Fat -- from far as wide. We have three of
:20:39. > :20:48.the international toppers behind us now. The father of one man came up
:20:49. > :20:52.with the design. He wanted to get young people into sailing and he
:20:53. > :20:58.wanted to design a boat which was low cost and easy to produce and it
:20:59. > :21:02.was a big experiment. It was designed to prove a new technology
:21:03. > :21:06.was a big experiment. It was which is injection moulding back in
:21:07. > :21:11.the 1970s. I presume you were a guinea pig? In the first boat was
:21:12. > :21:16.built, I was beginning picked that went out in all weathers and tested
:21:17. > :21:20.the boat prior to the fibreglass version being moulded. It is a
:21:21. > :21:26.popular boat with youngsters. What is the appeal M it is really that
:21:27. > :21:32.the boat takes people from the age of about nine or ten from optimists
:21:33. > :21:37.at two the age of about nine or ten from optimists
:21:38. > :21:42.graduate into lasers. It is a pathway class which is helping
:21:43. > :21:48.produce the next Olympic talent. When you see an event like this,
:21:49. > :21:52.world-class web youngsters taking part, what comes to mind could Mike
:21:53. > :21:58.it is wonderful to see people from all around the world coming to ship
:21:59. > :22:02.the experience. It is emotional because you see young people who are
:22:03. > :22:07.mentally fit and physically fit showing real endurance and
:22:08. > :22:13.self-sufficiency. Thank you very much. If you mark races to come
:22:14. > :22:23.tomorrow and that will be the competition over with for another
:22:24. > :22:29.year. Federico Fernandez should become a Swansea City player in the
:22:30. > :22:36.next few days. The club have agreed a fee believed to be around ?7
:22:37. > :22:42.million. He is due in Swansea soon for a medical. Hopefully a very good
:22:43. > :22:47.player. He brings that pedigree where he has been playing for
:22:48. > :22:49.Natalie and at the top level and obviously for Argentina, he played
:22:50. > :22:53.at the World Cup for the P is obviously for Argentina, he played
:22:54. > :22:56.good age for us. He is a good size and a good footballer.
:22:57. > :23:01.good age for us. He is a good size Champions The New Saints host Bangor
:23:02. > :23:03.City when the season gets underway next
:23:04. > :23:04.Friday night. According to one opposing manager,
:23:05. > :23:06.TNS, who've won the last three titles,
:23:07. > :23:16.will remain the team to beat. They are full-time and that gives
:23:17. > :23:26.them an advantage over everyone else. Everyone else is chasing.
:23:27. > :23:29.Anybody else could finish third or bottom next year.
:23:30. > :23:32.Rugby and the draw has been made for the new Champions Cup which replaces
:23:33. > :23:36.The Scarlets face a tough opening match at European Champions Toulon.
:23:37. > :23:38.The Ospreys host Italian side Treviso with the matches
:23:39. > :23:42.In the Challenge Cup, the Cardiff Blues open against Grenoble and
:23:43. > :23:56.Cricket. In the one-day cup match against Warwickshire, Glamorgan were
:23:57. > :24:02.batting first. Rain meant the opponents was that the revised
:24:03. > :24:06.target. Warwickshire won by seven wickets.
:24:07. > :24:09.Some parts of Wales has seen some torrential rain this afternoon.
:24:10. > :24:15.Derek, how's it looking? Torrential rain, hail, thunder
:24:16. > :24:54.Derek, how's it looking? as low as 10 Celsius.
:24:55. > :26:43.Required date tomorrow with fewer showers. Thank you very much. A
:26:44. > :26:47.reminder of the main headlines. There are calls for patients who pay
:26:48. > :26:53.for both attempted to be given the same rights as NHS patients. If you
:26:54. > :26:56.are not happy with NHS treatment, you can turn to the public services
:26:57. > :27:02.ombudsman to investigate. That is not the case for private patients.
:27:03. > :27:06.Students across Wales have been getting their A-level results. For
:27:07. > :27:08.the first time in five years, the number of people here achieving the
:27:09. > :27:11.highest grades has risen. The overall pass rate has fallen
:27:12. > :27:18.slightly. On tomorrow's programme,
:27:19. > :27:21.the start of a series of special reports from Flanders
:27:22. > :27:24.where a new memorial is being unveiled to the soldiers from Wales
:27:25. > :27:27.who fought in the First World War. We'll be speaking to those who
:27:28. > :27:28.campaigned for it and hearing from others who're making the journey
:27:29. > :27:40.to Belgium for the ceremony. More on that tomorrow. We will have
:27:41. > :27:42.an update at eight o'clock and after the BBC News at ten. Thank you for
:27:43. > :27:45.watching. Good evening.