:00:00. > :00:00.Welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's headlines.
:00:00. > :00:07.Most of the key waiting times in Wales are longer on average
:00:08. > :00:11.than in England for NHS treatments and diagnoses.
:00:12. > :00:15.The findings of exclusive analysis by BBC Wales.
:00:16. > :00:18.The system is working flat out at the
:00:19. > :00:21.moment and the staff in hospitals are working flat out to try and
:00:22. > :00:25.But still the waiting lists appear to grow.
:00:26. > :00:43.The Welsh Government admits more could be done to tackle the delays.
:00:44. > :00:45.Also tonight: Here they're performing well but some schools
:00:46. > :00:53.claim the way they're being measured isn't fair to everyone.
:00:54. > :00:59.The latest plan to help small companies keep in the game.
:01:00. > :01:02.The new Swansea City head coach faces the cameras for the first time
:01:03. > :01:06.as the club looks to sign a new striker.
:01:07. > :01:08.And trouble is brewing over the Atlantic.
:01:09. > :01:11.The next winter Storm Gertrude is on the way.
:01:12. > :01:23.Average waiting times in the Welsh NHS are longer than in England for
:01:24. > :01:30.Exclusive analysis by BBC Wales has found the biggest difference
:01:31. > :01:37.The average wait here was 197 days compared to 75 in England.
:01:38. > :01:41.The Welsh Government denies the NHS is failing -but says more could be
:01:42. > :01:48.Our health correspondent Owain Clarke has this special report.
:01:49. > :01:51.If you are ill or in pain you obviously need to be treated
:01:52. > :01:53.quickly but Carol from Mold had to wait more
:01:54. > :01:59.According to NHS targets, nobody should wait that long.
:02:00. > :02:09.Unfortunately, the stress, the length of time I had to wait has
:02:10. > :02:16.put pressure on my other hip so I am now, having recovered from the first
:02:17. > :02:19.operation, I'm now on the urgent list.
:02:20. > :02:22.Is Carol's case exceptional or symptomatic of deeper problems
:02:23. > :02:27.If you think answering that question would be easy think again.
:02:28. > :02:32.That is because health statistics in Wales
:02:33. > :02:36.and England are often collected and measured in different ways.
:02:37. > :02:38.We've been digging deep and found figures we can compare.
:02:39. > :02:43.They suggest the median waiting times in Wales was longer
:02:44. > :02:46.than in England by some margin for seven out of 11 key
:02:47. > :02:52.For hip replacements, the average weight was 122 days
:02:53. > :02:55.longer here than on the other side of the border.
:02:56. > :02:59.There was a difference of 70 days for diagnosing hernias.
:03:00. > :03:02.For this, hips and treating cataracts
:03:03. > :03:05.the gap with England had grown in the previous three years.
:03:06. > :03:08.However we measure it, I think it is unacceptable
:03:09. > :03:10.for a patient with a painful hip to be waiting more
:03:11. > :03:13.than six months for a hip operation.
:03:14. > :03:16.The system is working flat out at the moment
:03:17. > :03:18.and the staff in the hospitals are working flat
:03:19. > :03:20.out to try and keep up with the demand.
:03:21. > :03:22.But still the waiting lists appear to grow
:03:23. > :03:26.But there is more encouraging news on more urgent care.
:03:27. > :03:29.In three years, waiting times for types of heart surgery showed
:03:30. > :03:32.a big improvement with a gap with England reducing by 65 days.
:03:33. > :03:36.Patients in Wales were still typically waiting almost eight weeks
:03:37. > :03:39.longer and the performance between the two nations is similar
:03:40. > :03:42.on cancer diagnosis and better on waiting
:03:43. > :03:46.Why have waiting times lengthened for
:03:47. > :03:51.According to the doctor in charge of a Wales wide
:03:52. > :03:56.plan to reduce waiting times, it's a case put simply of supply not
:03:57. > :04:04.If you are a service which receives 100 referrals per month,
:04:05. > :04:08.if you don't have the activity to cope with those 100 referrals
:04:09. > :04:11.per month, each month you are going to add patients
:04:12. > :04:15.The waiting list will grow and grow and grow.
:04:16. > :04:18.Just to increase your activity to burn the backlog,
:04:19. > :04:22.as it is commonly described, alone it
:04:23. > :04:30.Here in Swansea the local health board
:04:31. > :04:33.believes they have found one solution.
:04:34. > :04:36.11,000 patients a year are seen by doctors and physiotherapists
:04:37. > :04:43.Gail Crockett came here within weeks.
:04:44. > :04:46.She may have been waiting many months had she been sent to see
:04:47. > :04:50.80% of those that get seen here end up needing no
:04:51. > :04:53.It is much more personal and much more easier.
:04:54. > :04:55.To come to this level rather than go to
:04:56. > :04:57.more serious operations and things like that.
:04:58. > :05:00.The majority of people do not need a surgical intervention.
:05:01. > :05:06.I think the population is actually starting to get used to that idea
:05:07. > :05:10.as well and I think looking after yourself and maintaining
:05:11. > :05:13.yourself with a good lifestyle is important.
:05:14. > :05:16.What accounts for the differences between
:05:17. > :05:20.The waiting list gap has been there for a long time
:05:21. > :05:24.The population of Wales generally speaking is older,
:05:25. > :05:27.sicker and poorer than in England placing more burden on services.
:05:28. > :05:32.Independent experts tell us that wouldn't account
:05:33. > :05:37.Wales does seem to have some difficulties with waiting times.
:05:38. > :05:41.It is worth pointing out that Wales has done some really good
:05:42. > :05:47.things in the area for example of patient safety and quality of care.
:05:48. > :05:50.If you ask the public, what matters to you more,
:05:51. > :05:52.the quality and safety of treatment you get or the time
:05:53. > :05:56.I think most people would say the quality and the safety
:05:57. > :05:59.As long as people don't suffer harm while they
:06:00. > :06:03.The message from him is don't judge the Welsh NHS on speed alone.
:06:04. > :06:07.As we race towards the Welsh election how quickly patients gets
:06:08. > :06:11.treated will soon be at the heart of the debate.
:06:12. > :06:13.Our political editor Nick Servini is at the Senedd.
:06:14. > :06:22.What impact will these figures have on the political debate here?
:06:23. > :06:28.We have never set out up to data directly compatible health data
:06:29. > :06:35.across a broad range of categories like this before. I expected to form
:06:36. > :06:41.the backdrop to much of the debate in the debates in the weeks and
:06:42. > :06:48.months to come ahead. Labour with deal with, they will be asked angry
:06:49. > :06:53.questions from people asking why should people in Wales wait four
:06:54. > :06:58.months longer funny hip operation? Why should they wait twice as long
:06:59. > :07:01.for heart bypass surgery? They will have to do with these questions or
:07:02. > :07:07.they risk losing a load of key marginal seats across Wales. Vaughan
:07:08. > :07:11.Gething, the deputy health minister, talked about having to rent the NHS
:07:12. > :07:16.in a different way. Many people would agree with him but that takes
:07:17. > :07:21.time. In an election year time is exactly what a government does not
:07:22. > :07:26.have. Give us a flavour of what the opposition parties have had to say
:07:27. > :07:29.on this. They have waded in, they have called them disgusting, they
:07:30. > :07:34.have called for an apology to stop they would consider these figures
:07:35. > :07:37.are gift. No matter how difficult they are for the government, serious
:07:38. > :07:41.questions for the opposition parties as well because when they come out
:07:42. > :07:47.with their health policies and four Plaid Cymru, for example, it is
:07:48. > :07:51.major reorganisation. The Tories want directed elected chairs of
:07:52. > :07:57.health boards. The key question they have to answer is how will those
:07:58. > :07:58.policies wipe off for months from a wait for a hip replacement
:07:59. > :07:59.operation? Airbus has agreed a deal
:08:00. > :08:01.with Iranian officials to provide Iran Air
:08:02. > :08:03.with 118 airliners. The 25 billion dollar deal was
:08:04. > :08:06.announced in Paris earlier today. The wings for the planes will be
:08:07. > :08:09.built at Airbus's plant A head teacher who improved pupils'
:08:10. > :08:17.tests results at a Pembrokeshire school has been banned from teaching
:08:18. > :08:20.by an education tribunal. 47-seven-year old Shan Harries
:08:21. > :08:22.changed the results at Eglwyswrw County Primary School
:08:23. > :08:26.after the School Inspectorate Estyn An investigation is underway
:08:27. > :08:32.following allegations pornography was shown at the funeral of a father
:08:33. > :08:35.and his baby in Cardiff. Staff at Thornhill crematorium have
:08:36. > :08:39.apologised to the family of Simon Lewis and his son,
:08:40. > :08:42.also called Simon. They died following a car
:08:43. > :08:48.crash on New Year's Eve. More schools have been rated
:08:49. > :08:51.as "performing well" in the second There were 333 primary and secondary
:08:52. > :08:58.schools in the top green category Red schools, those needing
:08:59. > :09:06.the most improvement, Unions have welcomed the figures
:09:07. > :09:29.but some governors say the system Here at this school in Cardiff Bay,
:09:30. > :09:32.they have been marked as green. The new system takes into account more
:09:33. > :09:35.than just academic levels and this has helped them to keep their place
:09:36. > :09:41.as one of the best performing schools in Wales. We recognise for
:09:42. > :09:45.the hard work we do with the children. A lot of our children come
:09:46. > :09:48.in with low levels of English. For them to achieve by the end of
:09:49. > :09:54.foundation phase is often a challenge. There are four
:09:55. > :09:58.categories, green schools are deemed to be already doing well. One in
:09:59. > :10:02.five high schools and green this year. Yellow and effective and
:10:03. > :10:08.taking action to improve where necessary. And the schools are in
:10:09. > :10:12.need of improvement. Read schools are those in need of the greatest
:10:13. > :10:18.improvements. One in nine of our high schools are red. Scores like
:10:19. > :10:23.this on in Flintshire which has come at Amber sabre system unfairly
:10:24. > :10:35.penalises small schools stop a primary school with less than 100
:10:36. > :10:39.pupils,... Applying benchmarks to that in those circumstances, a
:10:40. > :10:43.school might be kept to the amber category by virtue of a performance
:10:44. > :10:47.largely of one pupil. The last government says because schools
:10:48. > :10:50.cannot just rely on the performance of their top students, it is a
:10:51. > :10:55.system that delivers for all learners. It is an absolute system
:10:56. > :11:01.which means schools are not in a situation where if one school goes
:11:02. > :11:07.up another one has to fall because that is the way league tables work.
:11:08. > :11:12.Every school in Wales is capable of hitting a green category if they
:11:13. > :11:17.follow that improvement journey. They any tears courses we are
:11:18. > :11:25.positive that once against using it as a method of judging individual
:11:26. > :11:29.schools stop -- the nu tea. If it is seen as where schools can build
:11:30. > :11:33.capacity and work with each other it can be used as a useful measure.
:11:34. > :11:38.Opposition parties have raised concerns over the number of schools
:11:39. > :11:43.in the red category. The government says it isn't about labelling
:11:44. > :11:47.schools. But directing the right support to ensuring improvements
:11:48. > :11:53.across the system. Here in Cardiff Bay, being green for two is at
:11:54. > :11:56.things parents and approaching the schools seek places for their
:11:57. > :12:01.children. Elsewhere in Wales, schools will be to what support the
:12:02. > :12:03.Welsh Government plans to put in place for those schools deemed to
:12:04. > :12:04.need it. Our political correspondent
:12:05. > :12:07.Arwyn Jones is here. This system is in its second year
:12:08. > :12:19.now, why does the Welsh Government It comes down to accountability. You
:12:20. > :12:23.rewind to 12 years ago when school league tables were pitched in Wales.
:12:24. > :12:26.The Welsh Government is now pretty much acknowledge is that is the
:12:27. > :12:32.point at which they took that is the point at which they took their eye
:12:33. > :12:34.off the ball. That led to a stagnation when you look at GCSE
:12:35. > :12:41.results and the problems that came from that. Fast forward to 2010,
:12:42. > :12:44.they reintroduced an element of school banding and that was tweaked
:12:45. > :12:48.last year and we get the categorisations. When you have that
:12:49. > :12:53.accountability, it focuses the minds of schools back on standards and
:12:54. > :12:56.according to the Welsh Government some of the acceleration we've seen
:12:57. > :13:03.in the improvements in GCSE results, that is down to schemes that this
:13:04. > :13:08.one. With this system it is more difficult to compare this one --
:13:09. > :13:12.year with last year. There is an additional emphasis now on getting
:13:13. > :13:16.the best out of the poorest pupils. A school can't rely on their best
:13:17. > :13:21.and brightest to get the top. If they want to be in green category,
:13:22. > :13:25.free school meals pupils have two reach a certain level and that
:13:26. > :13:31.changes every year. We can't compare this year to last year. As one
:13:32. > :13:35.teaching union said to me today, if you can't compare year-on-year, that
:13:36. > :13:37.makes it difficult to see if the school is improving getting worse.
:13:38. > :13:40.And you can find out what category your local school
:13:41. > :13:41.falls into on the BBC Wales News website.
:13:42. > :13:50.Objections by all four party leaders in the Assembly to an EU referendum
:13:51. > :13:53.in June are a "bit of silliness" according to the Welsh Secretary.
:13:54. > :13:56.In a speech in Cardiff today, Stephen Crabb made the case
:13:57. > :13:59.for Britain to stay in a reformed EU if the Prime Minister's negotiations
:14:00. > :14:03.But the Assembly leaders, including Welsh Tory
:14:04. > :14:07.leader Andrew RT Davies, have warned holding the in-out vote
:14:08. > :14:11.the month after May's Assembly election, could confuse voters.
:14:12. > :14:15.I happen to believe there is no great problem in combining elections
:14:16. > :14:21.But we listen to the arguments and we made a commitment not to have
:14:22. > :14:27.Now they have moved the goalposts and said we don't want
:14:28. > :14:29.the referendum happening with in a number of months or weeks
:14:30. > :14:31.of the Assembly and Scottish Parliament elections.
:14:32. > :14:33.I think there is a bit of silliness going on here.
:14:34. > :14:36.People in Wales are well able to handle the debate about different
:14:37. > :14:40.issues in roughly the same time period.
:14:41. > :14:42.The Conservatives have promised to cut business rates for small
:14:43. > :14:45.companies but big companies like supermarkets would pay more
:14:46. > :14:51.They say it's part of a plan to put the needs of small businesses
:14:52. > :14:53.at the heart of a Tory Welsh Government.
:14:54. > :14:59.Here's our political correspondent Daniel Davies.
:15:00. > :15:09.Making a cut in the tax paid by small businesses. Once Conservative
:15:10. > :15:13.leader Andrew RT Davies says if he was First Minister he'd have
:15:14. > :15:17.officials dedicated to helping small businesses. They'd also Payless
:15:18. > :15:21.integrates while bigger businesses like supermarkets would pay more.
:15:22. > :15:27.The supermarkets play an important role in Wales, employing many
:15:28. > :15:31.people. But they have huge advantages in some of the incentives
:15:32. > :15:39.offered to them with their political that particular business model. The
:15:40. > :15:43.small businesses need a helping hand. Rates are split in England and
:15:44. > :15:47.Scotland to help small businesses but not in Wales although there is a
:15:48. > :15:51.scheme that means the smallest companies pay nothing at all. Four
:15:52. > :15:56.years ago a review found this huge Tesco in Cardiff would be paying 22
:15:57. > :16:02.and a half thousand pounds more in business rates if it was in England.
:16:03. > :16:07.The Tories say they would change the system so the same rules apply on
:16:08. > :16:11.both sides of the border. The wealth retail Consortium which represents
:16:12. > :16:15.the industry told us they would be alarmed if the proposed new rates
:16:16. > :16:20.for bigger businesses opened the door for even bigger taxes. One
:16:21. > :16:22.business guru who look that this idea for the Welsh Government
:16:23. > :16:30.recommended against it. Economic league in terms of income, it is
:16:31. > :16:33.backward. Why would we want to discourage big companies from coming
:16:34. > :16:38.to Wales? We thought we would say, we won't charge bigger rate, we want
:16:39. > :16:45.bigger companies to relocate to Wales. We will treat you fairly.
:16:46. > :16:49.These people make arcade games near Caerphilly. They need more space but
:16:50. > :16:58.upgrading to bigger premises would mean a business rate hike. It is a
:16:59. > :17:01.barrier. What is fundamental in me not investing in buying the unit
:17:02. > :17:08.next door and increasing my work space is we are struggling. Is.
:17:09. > :17:10.Politicians know at election time it is far better to be seen to be
:17:11. > :17:13.standing up for the little guy. The new head coach
:17:14. > :17:17.settling-in at Swansea. Francesco Guidolin tells us he's
:17:18. > :17:21.close to signing a new striker Plans for the first Welsh medium
:17:22. > :17:33.secondary school in Newport may be in doubt after experts warned
:17:34. > :17:37.the site could experience Natural Resources Wales,
:17:38. > :17:43.the body that advises on the environment here,
:17:44. > :17:46.has opposed the development. Newport Council says it's committed
:17:47. > :17:48.to Welsh medium education. The plans for Newport's first Welsh
:17:49. > :17:54.medium secondary school. John Frost School,
:17:55. > :17:56.named after the city's It'll share a site with
:17:57. > :18:00.the existing English medium, Because of tidal events
:18:01. > :18:11.on the nearby Severn Estuary Natural Resources Wales,
:18:12. > :18:15.the body that advises says the school should be
:18:16. > :18:18.able to withstand a one in a hundred year
:18:19. > :18:21."climate change event". It says it could actually flood
:18:22. > :18:25.during a one in 20 year event. Parents at this Welsh
:18:26. > :18:27.medium primary school in the city say they're
:18:28. > :18:37.shocked at the news. My daughter has just started in the
:18:38. > :18:42.nursery so with that a few years to go yet. Equally, I'm a little bit
:18:43. > :18:47.shocked and surprised to hear their may not be the provision they
:18:48. > :18:48.promised us. What is your point to send the children to a well when
:18:49. > :18:50.they have got nowhere else to go? Natural Resources Wales
:18:51. > :18:52.says any development and that flooding would be
:18:53. > :18:55."dangerous to children, The council's own planning
:18:56. > :18:59.officers have reccomended it But where then does
:19:00. > :19:02.it go in the city? Newport Council has
:19:03. > :19:05.to provide Welsh medium The money is there, part of it from
:19:06. > :19:10.the Welsh Government. The council says there
:19:11. > :19:14.is no other viable site. The council says it's
:19:15. > :19:16.committed to delivering if councillors feel the risks
:19:17. > :19:22.are properly addressed. They'll decide on the
:19:23. > :19:27.development early next month. Tomos is here now
:19:28. > :19:31.with tonight's sport. Swansea City are close to bringing
:19:32. > :19:33.in their first player of the transfer window
:19:34. > :19:35.with Chievo striker, Alberto Paloschi, due
:19:36. > :19:39.to have a medical at the club ahead Head coach Francesco Guidolin also
:19:40. > :19:45.told me potential transfer targets could be put-off moving to Swansea
:19:46. > :19:47.because of the club's It was handshakes all around
:19:48. > :19:55.at his first press conference. Francesco Guidolin is Swansea's
:19:56. > :19:58.third head coach this season, tasked with keeping
:19:59. > :20:01.the club in the Premier League. To help him achieve that,
:20:02. > :20:05.he needs new players. The deal is nearly done
:20:06. > :20:09.for the striker Alberto Paloschi. He will cost Swansea
:20:10. > :20:12.at around ?8 million. He is a player the head coach
:20:13. > :20:15.knows well from their time together at
:20:16. > :20:17.Italian side, Parma. I think he can help
:20:18. > :20:30.the team to have results. Two consecutive wins against Watford
:20:31. > :20:44.and Everton in recent weeks has eased the pressure
:20:45. > :20:50.but attracting new players to the club at the wrong end of
:20:51. > :20:53.the table hasn't been easy. Have the players been put off coming
:20:54. > :20:57.to Swansea because of the current league position, the fact you re
:20:58. > :20:59.at the wrong end of the One player courted by
:21:00. > :21:06.the club wanted a clause in his contract allowing him
:21:07. > :21:09.to leave for nothing should Swansea be relegated at the end
:21:10. > :21:12.of the season. That is something the supporters
:21:13. > :21:16.trust, who have a 21% stake in the club, are not
:21:17. > :21:19.willing to agree to. One of the issues that the club has
:21:20. > :21:23.at the moment is the sort of demands that perspective
:21:24. > :21:24.players are asking for. We've known from the past,
:21:25. > :21:27.even after the success in the 80s, the club plummeted because of funds
:21:28. > :21:30.which we didn't have what actually Spending funds wisely is one
:21:31. > :21:41.of the key things as far as the current club and supporters
:21:42. > :21:43.trust is concerned. Francesco Guidolin said he is more
:21:44. > :21:45.concerned about familiarising himself with the current squad
:21:46. > :21:47.than he is with making But he is keen on bringing
:21:48. > :21:51.in one or two new players before the
:21:52. > :21:53.deadline on Monday. Wales have been given an additional
:21:54. > :21:56.allocation of more than 4,000 The former Wales and Cardiff
:21:57. > :21:58.striker Robert Earnshaw has After 236 goals for club
:21:59. > :22:01.and country, including this hat-trick against Scotland,
:22:02. > :22:03.Earnshaw will now stay at Vancouver Whitecaps
:22:04. > :22:10.as their strikers coach. A second rugby player
:22:11. > :22:12.from Welsh Division One side Maesteg Harlequins has been
:22:13. > :22:15.suspended in the space of two days. Ryan Watkins' four year ban
:22:16. > :22:17.for steroid use comes after hooker Shaun Cleary was banned for two
:22:18. > :22:20.years for testing positive Derek is here now and Storm
:22:21. > :22:28.Gertrude is on the way. Wales will escape the worst
:22:29. > :22:32.but there's more rain and stronger Trouble is brewing over
:22:33. > :22:36.the Atlantic. This mass of cloud
:22:37. > :22:40.is Storm Gertrude. The seventh named storm
:22:41. > :22:42.of the season so far. Gertrude is going to bring us more
:22:43. > :22:45.rain and severe gales. The northern half of the UK will be
:22:46. > :22:49.bear the brunt of the stormy weather, especially the far north
:22:50. > :22:52.of Scotland with amber warnings. Nonetheless Met Office yellow
:22:53. > :22:59.warnings are force for both wind and rain with a risk
:23:00. > :23:01.of surface water flooding. So tonight, windy with outbreaks
:23:02. > :23:03.of rain and drizzle. Severe gales in the north later
:23:04. > :23:08.in the night. Gusts over 80mph on exposed coasts
:23:09. > :23:12.and in Snowdonia. Here's the picture for eight
:23:13. > :23:15.in the morning. Severe gales in exposed parts
:23:16. > :23:21.of the north and northwest. Some heavy rain and poor travelling
:23:22. > :23:25.conditions for the It might be worth allowing extra
:23:26. > :23:30.time for your journey to work. Now later in the morning
:23:31. > :23:32.and into the afternoon, Turning drier and brighter
:23:33. > :23:36.with a few showers. The gales easing but
:23:37. > :23:45.remaining very breezy. Tomorrow evening more rain
:23:46. > :23:48.will spread into south Wales. Showers will follow
:23:49. > :23:54.and turning colder. The showers wintry on higher ground
:23:55. > :23:57.with a little snow on some Saturday a cold and breezy day
:23:58. > :24:02.with a mixture of sunny spells Again the showers wintry
:24:03. > :24:05.on higher ground. Temperatures in single figures
:24:06. > :24:10.with a significant wind-chill. So a cold snap on Saturday
:24:11. > :24:15.but on Sunday it's all change again. Turning milder with another dose
:24:16. > :24:19.of rain and stronger winds. More strong winds
:24:20. > :24:27.and gales on Monday. The wind easing on Tuesday
:24:28. > :24:31.and turning colder. In the meantime watch out
:24:32. > :24:35.for storm Gertrude tomorrow. Wales will escape the worst
:24:36. > :24:38.but still very windy. Severe gales in the North
:24:39. > :24:55.with some travel disruption. tonight 's main news again.
:24:56. > :24:59.Exclusive analysis by BBC Wales has found average waiting times in the
:25:00. > :25:02.Welsh NHS and longer than in England fold most key treatment and
:25:03. > :25:03.diagnosis. The Welsh Government admits more could be done.
:25:04. > :25:06.We'll have a quick update for you at eight.
:25:07. > :25:09.More after the BBC News at Ten. But that is Wales Today.
:25:10. > :25:10.From all of us on the programme, have a good evening.