0:00:03 > 0:00:04Welcome to the programme.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07Tonight's headlines: One year after a health board was placed
0:00:07 > 0:00:09in special measures, managers say it will take another
0:00:09 > 0:00:12year to fully resolve the problems.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16And the first person in Wales to walk using a bionic exoskeleton -
0:00:16 > 0:00:21new hope for patients with spinal and brain injuries.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36Good evening.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38The chairman of Wales' biggest health board says it has
0:00:38 > 0:00:41"new energy" and is improving, but there's still work to be done
0:00:41 > 0:00:43to regain public trust.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46It's a year since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was put
0:00:46 > 0:00:48into special measures, after a catalogue of failings.
0:00:48 > 0:00:52Chris Dearden reports.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Business as usual on the wards at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor today,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59but behind the scenes, there been action plans
0:00:59 > 0:01:02as well as a higher level than usual of scrutiny and advice
0:01:02 > 0:01:05from Welsh Government staff.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08For the last year, the Betsi Cadwaladr health board has
0:01:08 > 0:01:09been in special measures.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11We think there have been improvements in
0:01:11 > 0:01:12out-of-hours services.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14There have been improvements in recruitment and, crucially,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17improvements in engagement.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20But with the public and with the staff of the health
0:01:20 > 0:01:23board as well feeling more connected to the leadership,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25and that leadership question, there is a new chief exec,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29a new medical director, a new nursing director and crucially
0:01:29 > 0:01:31a new director of mental health.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33The special measures seems to have unlocked quite a lot
0:01:33 > 0:01:34of energy among staff.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37Staff really want to make the board work and want to see
0:01:37 > 0:01:39the improvements themselves.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Staff and managers may be positive now but that's not
0:01:42 > 0:01:44always been the case.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47A year ago today, the Welsh Government stepped
0:01:47 > 0:01:49in with the country's biggest health board, but the problems
0:01:49 > 0:01:51go back even further.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Three years ago, an official report said there was significant
0:01:54 > 0:01:56management failings there.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58The then chairman resigned.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01In February last year, plans to temporarily downgrade
0:02:01 > 0:02:04maternity services caused protest.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06The health board eventually changed its mind.
0:02:06 > 0:02:10In May 2015, a leaked report highlighted big problems
0:02:10 > 0:02:13in out-of-hours GP services.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16In the same month, there was another official report into
0:02:16 > 0:02:17the Tawel Fan ward at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21it found that patients had been kept like animals.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24It all meant that the board was put into special measures,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27and the then Chief Executive was suspended.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30The Patients' Watchdog body says things are improving,
0:02:30 > 0:02:32but the health board has lost the trust of
0:02:32 > 0:02:34the people of North Wales.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38I think that over a period of about three or four years,
0:02:38 > 0:02:43we've had all the issues that we know about, and what this
0:02:43 > 0:02:46has done is chipped away at the social capital
0:02:46 > 0:02:49that the health board had.
0:02:49 > 0:02:57And it really is - public confidence really is at rock bottom.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Away from the wards, health board managers have been
0:02:59 > 0:03:01working hard to win back that trust,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03and to deal with the other problems, like the difficulties with
0:03:03 > 0:03:06GP surgeries and the way they recruit staff.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09They admit it could take up to another year to fully sort things
0:03:09 > 0:03:12out, and perhaps even longer to win back the trust and confidence
0:03:12 > 0:03:14of people in the North Wales.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18Chris Dearden, BBC Wales today, at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Swansea Crown Court has heard how a man bludgeoned his landlord
0:03:21 > 0:03:23to death using a hammer.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26David Ellis is accused of murdering Alec Warburton at a house
0:03:26 > 0:03:29in Sketty last summer, before travelling to North Wales
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and dumping his body in a disused quarry.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Ellis admits manslaughter, but denies murder.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Cardiff University has suspended a number of medical students
0:03:39 > 0:03:43from clinical practice and ordered an independent racial equality
0:03:43 > 0:03:46review, amid reports black face-paint was used to impersonate
0:03:46 > 0:03:49a staff member in a student-led play.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54The University says it will learn lessons from the review.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57These are young people, the people who have been complained against,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00who are entering into a profession where they will be required
0:04:00 > 0:04:05to provide care for all members of society.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09It is important that we look at these allegations very seriously,
0:04:09 > 0:04:11because we are responsible for training the doctors
0:04:11 > 0:04:13of the future.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Ukip Assembly group leader Neil Hamilton has offered
0:04:15 > 0:04:19Labour his party's support to get ?1 billion M4 relief road
0:04:19 > 0:04:22in South Wales passed by the Senedd.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25Ukip's manifesto had backed a cheaper blue route.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28The proposed black route is opposed by Plaid Cymru,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Liberal Democrat Kirsty Williams, as well as some Labour Assembly
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Members and environmental groups.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38They were told they may never walk again, but today,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42patients with spinal cord and brain injuries have been taking
0:04:42 > 0:04:45their first steps, thanks to robotic technology.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49They've become the first in Wales to wear bionic exoskeletons.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Carwyn Jones has the story.
0:04:53 > 0:04:54There's the first, second and third...
0:04:54 > 0:04:59Abdul is about to take his first steps in almost four years.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02He was just 17 when a car accident left him paralysed
0:05:02 > 0:05:04from the neck down.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Today he walked again.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Step, step, step...
0:05:09 > 0:05:12He's wearing an exoskeleton - a bionic suit, strapped to his body.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14His arm movements activate motors that drive the legs.
0:05:14 > 0:05:21In three minutes, he's taken 119 steps.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24I've just got to let it sink in first.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27I got to move around.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32Hopefully I'll get to do it more and I hope it has a positive effect
0:05:32 > 0:05:35on my mobility.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38This robotic exoskeleton costs around ?100,000,
0:05:38 > 0:05:39so it isn't cheap.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41But, big question, how does it work?
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Barry, you're the man with the answers.
0:05:43 > 0:05:44How does it function?
0:05:44 > 0:05:46We have two motors in the hips.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48There are two motors in the knees.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51We have lots of sensors, so it is continually
0:05:51 > 0:05:54evaluating the individual.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58It continually evaluates the support it needs to give in every step.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Bionics were initially developed for use in the military,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04but now that technology is being used to help patients
0:06:04 > 0:06:06with spinal cord and brain injuries -
0:06:06 > 0:06:10patients like Steve Thomas from Newport.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13In 2011, the former Royal Marine was left with severe brain damage
0:06:13 > 0:06:16after he was attacked in Thailand.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Today he's playing a video game - the on-screen graphics
0:06:20 > 0:06:23are being controlled by Steve shifting his body weight
0:06:23 > 0:06:25from left to right.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29If someone would have said to me, he will end up doing things
0:06:29 > 0:06:32like this, it would just be a dream come true.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34Well, it is a dream come true.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I never, ever thought we'd get to this stage.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40You know, from the amount of injuries he received.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45This is the first time technology like this exoskeleton has been used
0:06:45 > 0:06:47by patients in Wales, and they've had to come
0:06:47 > 0:06:48to a private clinic.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51None of this is currently available on the NHS,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53but that could change.
0:06:53 > 0:06:58What we try and do is make our equipment and technology available
0:06:58 > 0:07:01earlier, and I've got no doubt that it will filter through
0:07:01 > 0:07:04into the NHS at some stage.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Today, Abdul was happy to take small, steady steps in his
0:07:07 > 0:07:12exoskeleton, but there's little doubt that bionics represent a giant
0:07:12 > 0:07:15leap forward in medical technology.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19Rugby, and Wales captain Sam Warburton has recovered
0:07:19 > 0:07:21from a shoulder injury to start against New Zealand
0:07:21 > 0:07:23on Saturday in Auckland.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Second-row Alun Wyn Jones will make his 100th cap for Wales.
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Five changes from their loss against England,
0:07:28 > 0:07:33including Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Bradley Davies and Jonathan Davies.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37With just three days to go until Wales begin their Euro 2016
0:07:37 > 0:07:40campaign, the squad had their first training session at their base
0:07:40 > 0:07:43in Dinard ahead of their match against Slovakia.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47They were cheered on by hundreds of local children.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48We've got that togetherness.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51It really does feel like a club environment.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I think, obviously, that shows with what you've seen today.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58And yourself, back from an injury, are you ready for 90 minutes
0:07:58 > 0:07:59if selected on Saturday?
0:07:59 > 0:08:00Yeah, of course.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02I'm a fit lad, I know my body well,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05and I know what I can do for the team.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10Time for the weather now with Sue Charles.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11Good evening.
0:08:11 > 0:08:12It's been another humid one today.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Mostly fine and warm, with some isolated heavy showers.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18And more of the same tomorrow before we start to see some
0:08:18 > 0:08:19changes in our weather.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Overnight, showers will ease.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23Clear spells, some cloud and mist.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25A night of coastal fog developing, and another muggy night
0:08:25 > 0:08:29in the mid-teens for many.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31We will keep the humid conditions tomorrow.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Coastal fog lingering but cloud and mist should burn back
0:08:34 > 0:08:35through the morning.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Similar across the UK.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Warm and fine but, as the heat builds, the humidity could trigger
0:08:41 > 0:08:42the odd thunder shower.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44But staying dry for most.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48Cooler across the North of Scotland, at 14 Celsius, but in the humidity
0:08:48 > 0:08:52across south-east England, around 23 Celsius, and remaining
0:08:52 > 0:08:53largely fine for Wales.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Hazy sunshine and a few isolated showers later.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Similar temperatures, in the high teens and low 20s.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Probably warmest for border counties.
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Tomorrow night, this cold front starts to move in from the Atlantic,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09which will bring more widespread rain on Friday.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Tomorrow night starts dry for most.
0:09:11 > 0:09:12Some mist and fog developing.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16Cloud thickening ahead of that front arriving from the west,
0:09:16 > 0:09:20with a few showers, light winds and humid again overnight.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24So, a muggy start with showers on Friday, then outbreaks of rain
0:09:24 > 0:09:25pushing in from the west.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Heavy at times, but some drier, brighter spells in between,
0:09:28 > 0:09:31often cloudy and not quite as warm.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Temperatures back in the high teens everywhere.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38So, a couple more fine and humid days, with the odd heavy shower,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41and then a generally more unsettled end to the week.
0:09:41 > 0:09:42Some rain on Friday.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Sunshine and showers more likely on Saturday.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Feeling fresher by Sunday.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51The unsettled theme continues into next week.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53We'll be back in Breakfast with updates from around
0:09:53 > 0:09:556.25am tomorrow morning.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59From all of us here, a very good night.