0:00:00 > 0:00:01Now here on BBC One it's time for the news where you are.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08Welcome to Wales Today.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Our top stories: Exclusive analysis for BBC Wales reveals average
0:00:11 > 0:00:14waiting times in the Welsh NHS are longer than in England for most
0:00:14 > 0:00:17key treatments and diagnoses.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20And more schools are said to be performing well in the official
0:00:20 > 0:00:22colour-coded system - but some claim it isn't
0:00:22 > 0:00:26fair to everyone.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Good evening.
0:00:41 > 0:00:44Average waiting times in the Welsh NHS are longer than in England
0:00:44 > 0:00:45for most key treatments and diagnoses.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48Exclusive analysis by BBC Wales has found the biggest difference
0:00:48 > 0:00:52was for hip replacements.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55The average wait here was 197 days compared to 75 in England.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58The Welsh Government denies the NHS is failing,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00but says more could done to tackle delays.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06Our Health Correspondent Owain Clarke has this special report.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12If you are ill or in pain, you obviously want to be treated
0:01:12 > 0:01:14quickly, but Carol Whitfield from Mold had to wait more
0:01:14 > 0:01:16than a year for a hip replacement.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18According to NHS targets, nobody should wait that long.
0:01:18 > 0:01:24It is a life-changing operation, totally life-changing.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27Unfortunately, the stress, the length of time that I had
0:01:27 > 0:01:31to wait has put pressure on my other hip, so I am now,
0:01:31 > 0:01:33having recovered from the first operation,
0:01:33 > 0:01:41I am now on the urgent list.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43But is Carol's case exceptional or symptomatic of deeper problems
0:01:43 > 0:01:44in the Welsh NHS?
0:01:44 > 0:01:46If you think answering that question would be
0:01:46 > 0:01:48easy, think again.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50That's because health statistics in Wales and England are often
0:01:50 > 0:01:56collected and measured in different ways.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00We've been digging deeper for figures we're able to compare.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05They suggest the median waiting time in Wales was longer than in England
0:02:05 > 0:02:10by some margin for seven out of 11 key treatments and diagnoses.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13For hip replacements, the average wait was 122 days longer
0:02:13 > 0:02:15here than on the other side of the border.
0:02:15 > 0:02:23And there was a difference of 70 days for diagnosing hernias.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26And for this, hips and treating cataracts, the gap with England had
0:02:26 > 0:02:28grown in the previous three years.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30However we measure it, I think it is unacceptable
0:02:30 > 0:02:33for a patient with a painful hip to be waiting more than six months
0:02:33 > 0:02:34for a hip operation.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36The system is working flat out at the moment,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39and the staff in the hospitals are working flat out trying to keep
0:02:39 > 0:02:40up with the demand.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42But still the waiting lists appear to grow,
0:02:42 > 0:02:43and do grow.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46But there is more encouraging news on more urgent care.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48In three years, waiting times for types of heart surgery showed
0:02:48 > 0:02:51a big improvement, with the gap with England reducing by 65 days,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53although patients in Wales were still typically waiting almost
0:02:53 > 0:02:56eight weeks longer, and the performance between the two
0:02:56 > 0:03:00nations is similar on cancer diagnosis and better on waiting
0:03:00 > 0:03:09times for kidney transplants.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16So why have waiting times lengthened for surgeon treatment?
0:03:16 > 0:03:19According to the doctor in charge of a Wales-wide plan to reduce
0:03:19 > 0:03:22waiting times, it is a case put simply of supply not meeting demand.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24If you are a service which receives 100 referrals per month,
0:03:24 > 0:03:27if you don't have the activity to cope with those 100 referrals
0:03:27 > 0:03:30per month, each month, you are going to add patients
0:03:30 > 0:03:32to a waiting list.
0:03:32 > 0:03:41So the waiting list will grow and grow and grow,
0:03:41 > 0:03:48and just to increase your activity to burn off the backlog,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50as it is commonly described, alone, can be toxic.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52Here in Swansea, the local health board believes
0:03:52 > 0:03:53they have
0:03:53 > 0:03:54found one solution.
0:03:54 > 0:03:5611,000 patients a year are seen by doctors and physiotherapists
0:03:56 > 0:03:57at this clinic.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Gail Crockett came here within weeks.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02She may have been waiting many months had she been sent to see
0:04:02 > 0:04:03a hospital specialist.
0:04:03 > 0:04:0680% of those that get seen here end up needing no extra treatment.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09It is much more personal, and much easier to come to this
0:04:09 > 0:04:11level rather than go into more serious, like operations
0:04:11 > 0:04:15and things like that.
0:04:15 > 0:04:22The majority of people do not need the surgical intervention,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24and I think the population is actually starting to get used
0:04:24 > 0:04:26to that idea, as well.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29And I think looking after yourself and maintaining yourself with a good
0:04:29 > 0:04:32lifestyle is important.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36So what accounts for the differences between Wales and England?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38The waiting list gap has been there for a long time,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41so it is not a new problem.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Also the population of Wales, generally speaking, is older,
0:04:43 > 0:04:49sicker and poorer than in England, placing more burden on services.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51But independent experts tell us that wouldn't account
0:04:51 > 0:04:53for such a disparity.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Wales certainly does seem to have some difficulties with waiting
0:04:56 > 0:04:59times, but I think it is also worth pointing out that Wales has done
0:04:59 > 0:05:02some really good things in the areas of for example patient safety
0:05:02 > 0:05:11and quality of care.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13If you ask the public, what matters to you more,
0:05:13 > 0:05:14the quality and safety
0:05:14 > 0:05:17of treatment you get, or the time you get it,
0:05:17 > 0:05:19I think most people would say that quality and safety is
0:05:19 > 0:05:20much more important.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23As long as people don't suffer harm while they're waiting.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26So the message from him is don't judge the Welsh NHS on speed alone,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29because as we race towards the Welsh election, how patients might get
0:05:29 > 0:05:31treated will soon be at heart of the debate.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35A head teacher who improved pupils' tests results at a Pembrokeshire
0:05:35 > 0:05:37school has been banned from teaching by an education tribunal.
0:05:37 > 0:05:3947-seven-year old Shan Harries changed the results
0:05:39 > 0:05:41at Eglwys-wrw County Primary School after the Inspectorate Estyn
0:05:41 > 0:05:43set new targets.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48An investigation is under way following allegations pornography
0:05:48 > 0:05:51was shown at the funeral of a father and his baby in Cardiff.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Staff at Thornhill Crematorium have apologised to the family
0:05:53 > 0:05:55of Simon Lewis and his son, also called Simon.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57They died following a car crash on New Year's Eve.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01More schools have been rated as performing well in the second
0:06:01 > 0:06:03year of a new colour-coded system.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08There were 333 primary and secondary schools in the top,
0:06:08 > 0:06:12green, category in 2015, up from 236 in the previous year.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Red schools - those needing the most improvement -
0:06:14 > 0:06:17fell from 81 to 58.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20Unions have welcomed the figures, but some governors say the system
0:06:20 > 0:06:21isn't fair on smaller schools.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Caroline Evans reports.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Here at Mount Stuart Primary School in Cardiff Bay, they have been
0:06:28 > 0:06:30marked as green.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34The new system takes into account more than just academic levels,
0:06:34 > 0:06:37and this has helped them to keep their place as one
0:06:37 > 0:06:39of the best-performing schools in Wales.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41We are actually recognised for the hard work that we do
0:06:41 > 0:06:43with the children.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46A lot of our children come in with very low levels of English,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49and for them to achieve by the end of foundation phase
0:06:49 > 0:06:50is often a challenge.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54There are four categories - green, yellow, amber and red.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Green schools are deemed to be already doing well.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02One in five high schools are green this year.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Yellow are effective, and taking action to improve where necessary.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Amber schools are in need of improvement, and red schools
0:07:08 > 0:07:11are those in need of the greatest improvement.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15This year, one in nine of our high schools are red.
0:07:15 > 0:07:22Some schools, like this one in Flintshire which is rated amber
0:07:22 > 0:07:24say the system unfairly penalises small schools.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27A primary school of less than 100 pupils, they will have eight,
0:07:27 > 0:07:29nine, ten in a year group, and they're applying percentage
0:07:29 > 0:07:30benchmarks to that.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35And in those circumstances, a school might be tipped
0:07:35 > 0:07:37into the amber category by virtue of a performance
0:07:37 > 0:07:42largely of one pupil.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46The Welsh Government says because schools cannot just rely
0:07:46 > 0:07:49on the performance of their top students, it is a system that
0:07:49 > 0:07:52delivers for all learners.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55It is also an absolute system, which means that schools are not
0:07:55 > 0:07:58in the situation where if one school goes up the league tables,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00another one has to fall, because that is the way
0:08:00 > 0:08:06league tables work.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09Every school in Wales is capable of hitting the green category,
0:08:09 > 0:08:14the top category, if they follow that improvement journey.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19The NUT is cautiously positive, but warns against using it
0:08:19 > 0:08:24as a method of judging individual schools.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28If it is seen not as a judgment but as a way of recognising
0:08:28 > 0:08:30where schools need support and where they can build capacity,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33where they can work with each other to improve each other's practices,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35then of course it can be used as useful measure.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Opposition parties have raised concerns over the number of schools
0:08:38 > 0:08:40in the red category.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42But the Government says it's not about labelling schools,
0:08:42 > 0:08:44but directing the right support to ensure improvement
0:08:44 > 0:08:48across the system.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Here at Mount Stuart, being green two years in a row means
0:08:51 > 0:08:53that parents are now actively approaching the school to seek
0:08:53 > 0:08:59places for their children.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02But elsewhere in Wales, schools will be keen to know
0:09:02 > 0:09:04what support the Welsh Government plans to put in place for those
0:09:04 > 0:09:06schools deemed to need it.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Caroline Evans, BBC Wales Today, Cardiff.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12The Conservatives have promised to cut business rates for small
0:09:12 > 0:09:15companies if they win power in May's Assembly election.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17But big companies like supermarkets could pay more.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21The Tories propose changing how rates are calculated as part
0:09:21 > 0:09:24of a pledge to put the needs of small businesses at the heart
0:09:24 > 0:09:27of the Welsh Government.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29The supermarkets play a really important role in Wales,
0:09:29 > 0:09:31the length and breadth of Wales, employing many people,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34but ultimately they have huge advantages in some of the incentives
0:09:34 > 0:09:36that are offered to them with their particular business model.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39What we are saying is, for the 99% of businesses that
0:09:39 > 0:09:46are classified as small businesses in Wales...
0:09:46 > 0:09:47They
0:09:47 > 0:09:47They need
0:09:47 > 0:09:47They need a
0:09:47 > 0:09:47They need a helping
0:09:47 > 0:09:49They need a helping hand.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Airbus has agreed a deal with Iranian officials to provide
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Iran Air with 118 airliners.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55Their wings will built at their plant at Broughton in
0:09:55 > 0:09:56Flintshire.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58The $25 billion deal was announced in Paris earlier.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Plans for the first Welsh-medium secondary school in Newport
0:10:01 > 0:10:06are in doubt after warnings the site has a high flooding risk.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09Natural Resources Wales objected proposals that the existing
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Duffryn High School site should be split with a new Welsh-medium school
0:10:12 > 0:10:13being developed on part of it.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Newport Council says it's committed to Welsh medium education.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Football, and Swansea City are close to bringing in their first player
0:10:21 > 0:10:24of the transfer window.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27Chievo striker Alberto Paloschi is due to have a medical at the club
0:10:27 > 0:10:32ahead of a possible ?8 million move from the Italian side.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Speaking at his first press conference as head coach,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36Francesco Guidolin says Paloschi could be an asset to the Swans.
0:10:36 > 0:10:41The club are just four points above the Premier League relegation zone.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45He is a good player, a good guy.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50I think it is important for us.
0:10:50 > 0:10:56I think he can help the team to have results, and to score
0:10:56 > 0:10:58many, many goals.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00I hope.
0:11:02 > 0:11:04Cardiff City striker Joe Mason has joined Championship rivals Wolves
0:11:04 > 0:11:09for an undisclosed fee.
0:11:16 > 0:11:1924-year-old Mason scored 22 goals in 60 league starts for Cardiff,
0:11:19 > 0:11:22having joined from Plymouth in July 2011 for ?250,000.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27With news of Storm Gertrude on the way, here's Derek
0:11:27 > 0:11:28with the weather.
0:11:29 > 0:11:30Hello.
0:11:30 > 0:11:36Trouble is brewing over the Atlantic.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39This mass of cloud is Storm Gertrude, the seventh named
0:11:39 > 0:11:40storm of the season so far.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Gertrude is going to bring us more wet and very windy weather.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46I think Wales will escape the worst.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48Nevertheless, we still have yellow warnings in force for
0:11:48 > 0:11:49both wind and rain.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52So, tonight, windy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54heaviest on the hills and mountains, strong to gale force
0:11:54 > 0:11:57winds, as well.
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Tomorrow morning will be very windy, severe gales in the north,
0:12:00 > 0:12:04more rain as well, some of it heavy with poor travelling conditions.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07Later in the morning, it should start to brighten up
0:12:07 > 0:12:10in the north and west.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13I think the worst of the stormy weather tomorrow will affect
0:12:13 > 0:12:16the northern half of the UK, with a risk of damaging winds
0:12:16 > 0:12:17and some travel disruption.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20So, very windy tomorrow across the UK, stormy in the far
0:12:20 > 0:12:24north of Scotland, rain will spread south-eastwards during the day
0:12:24 > 0:12:26followed by brighter weather, some sunshine, but also showers,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29some heavy showers in the north, and falling snow in parts of
0:12:29 > 0:12:33Scotland.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37A high of nine Celsius in Glasgow, and turning colder.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39In Wales tomorrow afternoon, drier and brighter, some sunshine,
0:12:39 > 0:12:45one or two blustery showers as well.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Less windy, but still very breezy, the top temperatures 10-12
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Celsius and dropping.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52Tomorrow night, rain will spread into South Wales,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55parts of Powys, heavy before clearing away.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Showers following, and some of these will turn wintry on higher ground.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Saturday, then, will be a cold and breezy day,
0:13:02 > 0:13:06some sunshine, a few showers as well with a significant windchill,
0:13:06 > 0:13:10temperatures in single figures.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Then on Sunday it is all change again, turning milder with another
0:13:12 > 0:13:14dose of wind and rain.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16That's all from me.
0:13:16 > 0:13:17Watch out for storm Gertrude tomorrow.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Take care.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23We'll be back in Breakfast with updates from around 6.25.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25That's Wales Today.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27From all of us on the late team, thank you for watching.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Good night.