22/12/2015 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today - our top stories:

Patients protested at proposed changes to hospital services.

The new man in charge admits it's a struggling health trust

The organisation is struggling. The health board is in special measures.

I understand there has been a lot of coverage that has been critical. We

have let people down. Jordan Miers missing

since a night out in Swansea - police comb the river bank

in the hope of finding clues. Should MPs from

Westminster be allowed We'll be hearing why it might

improve how Cardiff bay works. the fire at a woodchip plant,

burning since the begining And Michael Sheen as Christ

in Port Talbot's Passion. It's goodbye to the Director

of National Theatre Wales - who changed the face

of our theatre. Problems remain and there

are no easy solutions. That's the message from the newly

appointed boss of Wales's In an interview with Wales Today,

Gary Doherty the new chief executive of the troubled Betsi Cadwaladr says

the health board has You can hear the

interview in a moment. But first Roger Pinney reports

on a troubled year for the NHS And his report begins

with some descriptions The NHS hardly ever seemed out of

the headlines. I found him lying flat in a pool of stale urine and he

was restrained by an empty bed to keep him in place. I think the whole

experience should be raised to the ground. It should be obliterated.

What relatives told us following a report which described inhumane

conditions at one of Betsi Cadwaladr's mental health units. The

scandal plunged the organisation to its lowest ebb and within weeks the

Welsh government has stepped in. As time has gone on, things have come

out which frankly leave us saddened and disappointed. We are determined

to make sure that no stone is left unturned and we do put these things

right. Betsi Cadwaladr was placed in special measures. The Chief

Executive, Trevor Pert, suspended. Carrying the can for the failings in

Wales' biggest organisation. Public confidence was slipping away long

before this. The Health Minister seemed to admit as much. It leads to

listen to what it is being told by the local population rather than

informing them of their already formed intentions. The Betsi

Cadwaladr board said it wanted to remove Doctor led maternity care

from one hospital, temporary measure while problems were sorted out. Many

simply did not believe that assurance and thousands came to the

streets to protest. There has now been a rethink but questions still

remain about the long-term viability of the maternity service. That is

the point you can have as many new bosses as you like but the issues

remain. There will still be shortages of specialist nurses,

middle ranking Doctor's GPs and some ponder whether the health board will

even continue to exist. Just before we came on air,

I spoke to the new boss of Chief Executive of

Betsi Cadawaldr Health Board, I put to him that point

in Roger Pinney's report that you can have as many

new bosses as you like, The organisation is struggling and

the health board is in special measures. There has been a lot of

coverage that has been critical. We have let people down and we need to

make the improvements that we need to make. It is a great place to work

and I want to make it a great place for everybody and patients to get

care and a great partner to work with. I am confident we will be able

to do that. It hasn't always been a great place to get care. How do you

rebuild public confidence? That is your challenge. How do you do that?

When people can see things getting better and they know I am a man of

high words, those things together will help tackle that issue. Many

people think Betsi Cadwaladr health board is too big geographically. Can

it survive in its present form? Size is a great strength but it is also a

challenge making everyone feel part of one organisation. I do think that

we need to look at that size as a strength and build on it and make

the most of it that we can. Recently, the First Minister didn't

seem that convinced. He suggested that Betsi Cadwaladr's future could

be reviewed after the forthcoming election. Nothing stays the same

forever. Hopefully we can work together on it and whatever we come

up with, it will be the best thing for the patience and the staff and

that is what everybody wants. It's made the cut up? I haven't started

in the health board yet. Give me a chance to get in there. If we can be

a successful organisation and do what we need to do, I don't see any

reason why anybody will make organisational changes. How do we

measure if you have been successful? We need to do better on waiting

search -- waiting times. I hope I can get out and meet people and hope

that people have confidence in me. When you meet people, many have been

protesting in North Wales and they will tell you what they want is to

stop health service managers meddling local services. It is

difficult to push through change in the NHS and Wales, isn't it? I

understand the passion that people feel for the NHS. If we work

together and we have good reasons to make changes, they will come

through. If we don't have good reasons, we shouldn't be doing them.

Nobody seems to stay long in that job. How long will you stay? I am

planning to stay a long time. You need to get to know an organisation

and deliver what you need to deliver on. I have to make improvements

quickly but I am hoping I will be there a long time because I think it

is a good place to be and a job I am proud to have. Thank you very much.

Now, the rest of the news. Police in Swansea are continuing

to search for a 21-year-old man who's been missing

since Saturday night. It's understood that

Jordan Miers from Bonymaen, had been out with friends

in the city centre Areas along the River Tawe have been

the main focus of the search so far. After almost three days

of nonstop searching, there are still very few clues

as to what has happened to Jordan A popular football coach

in the community and a recent university graduate,

his disappearance has been described by some of those who know him best,

as totally out of character. Like many young people

over the festive period, he had been out enjoying

himself with friends in the city The last sighting of Jordan was just

after ten o'clock on Saturday night outside the Toys "R" Us store

in the Park Tower retail and leisure It is believed he might

have been planning It is likely he would have crossed

this road and made his way along the River Tawe in the direction

of the Liberty Stadium. That is where the police have been

concentrating that search. Jordan is described as tall and slim

and was wearing light blue jeans, a blue shirt, a burgundy

jumper and brown Police officers as well as family

and friends have spent the last few days searching in difficult

conditions and many others have sent It is a very tight-knit

community and we want them to know that we are thinking

of the family and everyone is very concerned and is helping

out with the search. As the searching continues,

Southwest police is asking for anyone with CCTV

cameras that cover the general area around

the river, to get in touch. A driver who crashed and killed

a teenage girl after squeezing seven friends into a stolen van

in Rhondda Cynon Taff, has been warned he faces

a substantial jail sentence. Sammy Jo Davies died at the scene

of the crash in Aberdare in August. Kyle Perkins pleaded

guilty to three charges, including causing death

by dangerous driving. An education watchdog has

launched an investigation into the West London Vocational

Training College in Cardiff and its sister campus in London,

following concerns highlighted Allegations of fraud

were raised after a reporter, posing as a student,

was offered a loan to study at the private college

using fake qualifications. South Wales Police is also

investigating the college. It's owner has denied

knowing of any wrongdoing. It's been burning since

the beginning of the month. But a fire that's causing an acrid

stink across parts of Newport, may not be put out

for another three days. Firefighters say they're

still damping down thousands of tonnes of wood chippings

in the Docks area of the city. The experts warned it could take

weeks to put out and that has proven Around 20,000 tonnes of recycled

wood chippings was once piled up here at Alexandra docks,

stored ready for export abroad The fire crews and their equipment

first moved in on the 6th of December when smoke poured

across the river and across much It was brought under

control but yesterday fire crews returned

as the problem flared up again. trying to put out this seat of this

fire when we have had so much rain Matt Jones is from South

Wales Fire and Rescue What is unusual about this fireis

that it's making it tricky to We have between seven and 10,000

tonnes of a mixture of wood chippings and different

types of wood. We are aiming to dig away at this

and deal with these hot spots. We are doing everything we can

to suppress the smoke The stuff down here which is sodden

wet, which isn't going to burn in itself, the stuff under our feet

is different and it is bone dry The layer underneath

is well insulated and that is where

the fire is occurring. We are using heavy machines to dig

away at that and put copious amounts of water

on to distinguish the fire. For those nearby, the smell has

been the worst thing. It is a chemical based

smell and it is pungent. Where we are on the docks,

as soon as it comes up, As this material is wet,

there is always a danger They hhope to completely extinguish

the flames and hopefully get rid of the smell within

the next 72 hours. I'll tell you if I weren't

a married man... Mametz Wood, performed

in a Welsh forest, now the director of National Theatre

Wales takes his final bow. And you might be dreaming of a white

Christmas - but dream on - Should Welsh MPs be allowed

to become ministers in Cardiff Bay? The suggestion is it

would improve the talent on offer But the former Assembly Presiding

Officer Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas says it would be unconstitutional

and absurd. Here's our Political

Correspondent, Arwyn Jones. Two institutions which have

the greatest say on so many parts The Welsh Assembly is set to gain

new powers and members there say they are snowed under

and need my help. At the same time in Westminster,

following the English votes for English laws,

there's a view there will be less At the moment, only members

of the Welsh assembly are allowed to be ministers in the Welsh

government but if we arrive at that situation where there are greater

powers for this place and MPs from Wales in Westminster have

fewer responsibilities, where one solution might be

that we use the experience of those Westminster politicians

here in Cardiff Bay. The body representing

accountants in Wales and England says it will

help to expand the talent pool As we have 40 MPs who are reluctant

members to Westminster -- elected members to Westminster

and their roles in Westminster are diminishing, then why

not utilise those MPs The relationship between the Welsh

government and Westminster will be improved with those

MPs will involved. It will bring great talents

and more opportunity. The former Presiding Officer

the former AM sits in the Lords. Speaking from Westminster today

he said the proposals would be It is unconstitutional and absurd

because the Welsh people have voted twice in the referendum

with increasing majorities for a National Assembly

for Wales to which Welsh assembly members were elected

to form the Welsh government Therefore, the idea that

somebody should be imported from Westminster, from either house,

to appear as ministers in Cardiff is totally contradict

illusionary and In Lords, they sit around

the Cabinet table so could The fear is it could blur the lines

about who is responsible It would be confusing

if you are trying to figure out which MP to vote for

in a general election. Thinking about their campaign

promises and what they were doing in Westminster and six months later

they turn up in the Senate, The Welsh government

says it can't see any For the moment, it

seems the members of these two institutions will be

staying quite separate. Live to our Parliamentary

Correspondent David Cornock at David, an interesting suggestion,

but will it ever happen? the law as it currently stands says

the First Minister chooses his or her Welsh government ministers from

among assembly members. There is a big legal obstacle to consider

first. Then there are the political hurdles that will have to be

overcome. The law could be changed but that would require a consensus

among political parties and today it appears that among mainstream

political parties, it is something of a friendless idea. Members of the

House of Lords consider around David Cameron's table and they are

accountable to the House of Lords. MPs who were Welsh government

ministers wouldn't be accountable 2am is. Would they agree? Turkeys at

this time of year, they never vote for Christmas.

Charities say they're becoming increasingly concerned

about the effect legal highs are having on homeless people.

They say the use of so called synthetic cannabis among rough

Drugs workers say they're seeing a rise

in the number of overdoses, as the effects are

Sweeping its way through the homeless community,

a substance thatprovides oblivion but destroys lives.

You can be speaking to someone and they don't

know their names and are hallucinating.

The street name for synthetic cannabis is the drug of choice

for a rough sleepers.

Spice itself has been banned, but it has become a brand-name

for a range of many other legal highs.

Users undergo a marked change in their

perception of reality and it is proving appealing

To deal with life being hard, you need to tranquillising self.

She has been using it for three years and it is highly addictive and

difficult for drug workers to treat. We have what we need to work with

other drugs but with this, we don't have that and we are wiggly --

winging it. There is no research on it.

Specialist support service in Wales' capital city help

Battling mental health problems and drug addiction,

she told me what it was like to end up on the streets.

Horrendous and terrifying and you become

I had foot rot and all my toe nails fell off.

The publicity in Manchester in Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville along held

moustache homeless people to be in a building before it was renovated has

promoted a raft of online petitions calling on other councils to follow

and open up their empty buildings. But given the additional problems

many rough sleepers face, it is not something Cardiff is planning. The

provision we provide is a totality of a wraparound.

The idea of emptying and opening an empty

office building, it has to be staffed by people who can

It is feared it may not help the homeless community with these

Huge variations in council spending on mental health are worrying,

according to the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

They say while Monmouthshire spent around 11% of its adult

social care budget on mental health, Blaenau Gwent spent just

The Welsh Local Government Association says

councils are committed to high standards, at a time when demand

The Welsh Government says the figures don't include

Local authorities are making decisions about how they use

that mental health is taking a back-seat by comparison to other

Patients with conditions such as dementia and

need care packages, they need access to day centres.

We are putting vulnerable people in danger by not

giving them the services they require.

A former S4C executive has called on the Welsh language broadcaster

to automatically display English subtitles on all of its

Tweli Griffiths says the idea could attract more viewers

and has been prompted by the decline in the number

S4C said the idea was interesting, and it provided subtitles for more

than 78% of its current programme output.

A final curtain call and a bow tonight for the outgoing founder

and chief executive of National Theatre Wales

John McGrath says he leaves at a vibrant time

He's stepping down to run the Manchester International

He launched National Theatre Wales in 2009

with a remit to stage original and creative productions,

many of them in unusual locations across Wales.

Rehearsals for the inflatable candy lion. The final show under John

McGrath's seven years at the National Theatre Wales. It has been

a total joy to setup National Theatre Wales and have this amazing

time with the Welsh artists. One of the great joys of not having a

traditional venue, is that you are thinking of everything from scratch.

You type -- starting each time with anything and anywhere. What might it

be and what do we want to do? That ethos led to the staging of The

Passion, starring Martin Sheen. There was an audience of almost 6000

people over several days. Musician, Griff Rhys, is behind this final

production and National Theatre Wales has been responsible for some

unique innovative performances. John has done a lot to make that happen

and it is exciting for him to be moving on and exciting for the

company... I am sure he will pass them onto someone new. John

McGrath's remit to make creative productions in unusual locations led

him to do a play representing world more monuments at less arm. I think

it is in a vibrant state at the moment. It has been wondering to see

the independent companies and new performances and other artists that

are making work, putting it on in all sorts of places. If they have

inspired people to think that you can put art on anywhere, then that

is a fantastic legacy for us to have.

The Wales scrum half Gareth Davies says he never considered leaving

the Scarlets, despite interest from elsewhere.

The 25-year-old, who scored five tries

has signed a two year deal with the region.

Davies confirmed, that although there had been talk

about a national dual contract, one was never offered.

Welsh sailor Hannah Mills says the polluted waters of Rio

could hinder her chances of winning Gold at next year's Olympics.

Mills and Saskia Clark finished the year with victory in the 4-70

Earlier this month, the Rio 2016 organising committee said

the water meets the relevant standards.

But World Sailing says the water quality in Rio

Plenty of water here in the form of rain.

Derek's got tonight's forecast - its drying up tomorrow?

It is better tomorrow. We could do with a lot of dry weather.

At Capel Curig around 800mm has fallen so far.

That's over 2.5 feet and more than double the average

At the moment there are four flood warnings in force in mid,

This picture of the River Conwy looking very swollen was taken

by our weather watcher Jannette in Llanrwst.

This evening heavy rain will soon clear leaving clear spells

The showers heavy in places with gusty winds.

Temperatures inland dropping as low as 4 or 5 Celsius.

A few showers dotted around but on the whole a lot of dry

We'll all see some sunshine for a change.

Top temperatures 8 to 11 Celsius and breezy.

The wind strengthening during the afternoon and evening.

Severe gales in Irish Sea with more heavy rain spreading east

The rough weather associated with the next Atlantic storm

The far north and northwest of Scotland Ireland will

But here in Wales Christmas Eve will start wet and windy.

Brighter and less windy with sunshine and showers.

The air a bit colder so the showers will turn wintry on high ground

with a little snow on the mountain tops.

A dry start too bar the odd shower but it won't last.

More rain will spread from the southwest.

The wind picking-up and turning milder again.

Boxing Day windy and mild with outbreaks of rain and drizzle.

So tomorrow the best day of the week.

Watch out for more heavy rain and strong winds tomorrow night

The headlines: The new boss of Betsi Cadwaladr health board has told this

programme problems remain and there are no easy solutions. Gary Doherty

roommate -- said the health board has let people down. More on all of

the stories on our website. That's Wales Today thank

you for watching from all of us