Western Mail (Cardiff, Wales) back issues from February 2009:
Crisis warnings over health staff shortage.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Madeleine Brindley Health Editor POLITICIANS last night warned of an impending crisis in the Welsh health service as front-line workers face the consequences of damaging staff shortages. The ominous forecast was prompted by figures uncovered by the Western ...
Mind games won't stop us, vows confident ace Shane.(Sport)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: delme parfitt SHANE WILLIAMS last night vowed Wales will not be affected by "mind games" as they go in search of record-breaking, back-to-back Grand Slams. England coach Martin Johnson has refused to accept Warren Gatland's men as favourites, while Ireland ...
Assembly drive to teach people how to beat debt.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: David Williamson Senedd Correspondent THE Assembly Government will today launch a major new drive to improve the financial skills of the Welsh public as the recession takes hold. The initiative comes as stark figures reveal that four of the 10 constituencies ...
TODAY ON Wales Online.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... WATCH THIS VIDEO Catrin Finch performing ...
The King's crown and jewels from a legendary rugby career to go under the hammer; Playing for Wales is the greatest thing but I don't feel nostalgia.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Darren Devine and Steffan Rhys WELSH rugby legend Barry John last night explained his decision to sell off the most prized items of memorabilia from his glittering career by revealing: "Nostalgia means nothing to me." The fly-half, considered one of the ...
I'm not nostalgic.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Being sold alongside the items from John's career are a selection of mementoes from one of John's contemporaries and fellow Welsh great - Mervyn Davies. "Merve the Swerve", as he was nicknamed, was voted the greatest ever Welsh captain and greatest ever Wales No. 8 by fans in ...
Christine's special delivery for her own grandson.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... A WELSH grandmother revealed how she used her natural mothering instinct to deliver her own grandson - in just 10 minutes. Christine Williams, a farmer from Llanfair Caereinion, near Welshpool, was forced to become a makeshift midwife when her grandson Jaydon Lee Houghton made a ...
Service sector faces language move under planned shake-up; Formal request to be made to transfer responsibility for Welsh.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Tomos Livingstone and David Williamson WIDE swathes of the service sector will have to provide services in Welsh under the first proposed shake-up of language legislation for 15 years. A formal request to transfer responsibility for the language from ...
Myth of the firefighting super hero is keeping women out; More than 96% of the fire service in Wales is male.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Clare Hutchinson A DIRE shortage of women is causing a "serious problem" for the Welsh fire service, industry leaders warned last night after new figures revealed less than 4% of firefighters in Wales are female. There are currently only 110 female ...
Cash for shot film maker is 'nearest to an Israeli admission of guilt'.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Ceri Williams THE family of a Welsh-born film maker shot by the Israeli army confirmed yesterday they had accepted a settlement from the country's government. James Miller, 34, from Braunton, north Devon, died in May 2003 while working on a documentary for ...
Internet expert's web code warning to parents.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Mike Jones CHILDREN are putting themselves at risk from internet perverts by using a secret code to chat online, according to a web expert and former policewoman. Youngsters keen to keep their discussions secret are bypassing parents and teachers by using the ...
Demand for emergency treatment to cure lack of junior doctors as fears over patient safety are raised; HEALTH Opposition calls for urgent action on recruitment.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Madeleine Brindley Health Editor PATIENT safety could be at risk because a shortage of doctors in Welsh hospitals, medical leaders warned last night. The Western Mail has learnt that there were 164.5 vacancies for junior doctors - the term for any member of ...
Warning over salt in restaurant meals; HEALTH.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... DINERS are warned today that a single meal at some of the UK's most popular restaurants could contain well over their daily allowance of salt. Researchers found six out of 16 of the best-known high street chains served a main course dish containing at least 6g of salt, the ...
St John volunteers step in to help ailing ambulance service; HEALTH.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE under-pressure Welsh Ambulance Service has been forced to turn to St John Ambulance volunteers to provide frontline services because of severe staff shortages, the Western Mail can reveal today. Up to five crews from St John Cymru are working alongside paid paramedics and ...
Immigrants' wheelie bin smuggle halted; uk news bulletin.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... A GROUP of illegal immigrants were caught trying to smuggle themselves into the UK inside wheelie bins, it was revealed yesterday. A sniffer dog belonging to the UK Border Agency noticed the 10 men hidden inside the bins packed onto a lorry in the French port of Calais. Lois, an ...
7/7 baby delight for bomb attack victim; uk news bulletin.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... A WOMAN who lost her legs in the July 7 bombings is expected to give birth on the anniversary of the 2005 attacks. Martine Wright, who was one of the most seriously injured survivors, said she had exclaimed "Are you joking?" after hearing the baby was due on 7/7. She ...
Two in court over landlady's killing; uk news bulletin.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... ALODGER and his boyfriend will appear in court today charged with the murder of an Italian landlady who has been missing for more than three weeks, police said. Antonietta Guarino, 61, described as a "fine, upstanding" member of her community in ...
Britons in rush for a new life in Australia; world news bulletin.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... RECORD numbers of Britons are emigrating down under to Australia, new research has revealed. This winter's freezing temperatures combined with the gloomy economic outlook have prompted a huge rise in the numbers of Brits jumping ship to the Antipodes. A new survey reveals that ...
Israel in retaliation threat over attacks; world news bulletin.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... ISRAELI Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has vowed a "disproportionate" response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza. He was speaking soon after rockets hit southern Israel. Later three Israelis were injured inamortar barrage. Twoweeks ago, Israel and Hamas declared separate truces ...
Iceland has world's first gay leader; world news bulletin.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... ICELAND has announced a new government that will be headed by the modern world's first openly gay leader. Johanna Sigurdardottir was named new prime minister by the country's coalition political parties after the country's previous coalition cabinet collapsed last month under ...
Plans for new sleaze laws after Parliament scandals; Government considers Bill which will crackdown on peers and MPs.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: James Tapsfield A MAJOR overhaul of parliamentary sleaze rules could see MPs banned from earning extra cash and peers kicked out for serious misbehaviour, it was revealed yesterday. Ministers are considering the moves as part of efforts to restore public ...
Tough guys prove themselves in muddy challenge.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... THOUSANDS of competitors battled through knee-deep mud and braved bitterly cold conditions yesterday to take part in a race billed as the world's ultimate test of endurance. Entrants wearing fancy dress and others wearing little clothing at all were among those taking part in ...
Warning of 40% fall in house prices by 2010.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... HOUSE prices will fall by 40% from their peak in 2007 unless Government action succeeds in boosting mortgage lending, it has been warned today. The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said house prices would fall by a record amount in 2009 unless there was an ...
Free Tibet protesters arrested in demo as Chinese Premier visits his embassy.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... PRO-TIBETAN protesters scuffled with police yesterday as Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at the Chinese Embassy in London. Police said five men were arrested for public order offences after trying to push past officers to get to the doors of the building. ...
Escalation in wildcat strikes over foreigners likely today; Anger at use of imported labour spreads further.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Alan Jones WILDCAT strikes are expected to spread today in an escalation of the row over foreign labour, ahead of frantic moves to try to resolve the increasingly bitter dispute. Hundreds of contract workers at the Sellafield nuclear site in Cumbria will hold ...
Roadshow will be at the castle.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE All Wales Convention roadshow trailer will be calling on Caerphilly shoppers this week. The special trailer will be at Caerphilly's Castle Court Shopping Centre from 9am-5pm on Thursday to provide information on the work of the All Wales Convention and engage shoppers in the ...
Why keeping Welsh streets clean is becoming a drag; Smoking detritus accounts for 90% of rubbish on pavements.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Clare Hutchinson THE ban on smoking in all Welsh public buildings has sparked an explosion in the number of cigarette butts littering our streets, a leading campaign group reveals today. The warning, from anti-rubbish group Keep Wales Tidy, comes as a league ...
'Eat With a Local' dines out on the credit crunch; Networking site bags you a free meal and a taste of local life.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Steffan Rhys FIRST Homeswapper revolutionised the way people holiday, then villagers began swapping vegetables to cope with the credit crunch. Now, Eat With A Local is hoping to change the social dining scene forever by encouraging like-minded people to visit ...
Prince Charles declares Hoddinott Hall a 'triumph'.(News)(Concert review)
Feb 02, 2009 ... PRINCE CHARLES has officially opened Wales' newest concert hall, declaring it a "triumph". The prince, patron of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, listened to a concert at Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay on Saturday. He met members of ...
Complaints against police rose by 77% over past five years; Figures display confidence in dispute process.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Ben Glaze WELSH police received an average of four official complaints every day last year, figures reveal today. A total of 1,601 complaints were levelled against SouthWales, Gwent, North Wales and Dyfed-Powys Police - a rise of 77% over the past five years ....
pounds 900k farm shop serving up its own meat in 100-seater grill - and 36 jobs; Falling market prices force farmer to diversify into new rural venture.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Sally Williams IT'S the carnivore's equivalent of picking a lobster from a tank at the outset of a seafood feast. Diners at a new farm and grill will be able to eat roastWelsh lamb and beef overlooking the farmland where the animals were reared, at a new ...
'70s drug back on the street.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... A FORM of high-grade white heroin is making a comeback on Britain's streets, the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) warned yesterday. Heroin hydrochloride was widespread in the 1970s but was replaced by "brown" heroin. Easy to snort and inject because it is ...
Mandelson backs plans for Post Office 'people's bank'.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... BUSINESS Secretary Lord Mandelson is backing plans to create a "people's bank" using the 12,000-strong post office network, it was revealed yesterday. The branches would provide a full range of financial services, and could help the Government free up lending in the economy. The ...
Warning that credit crunch could end free banking in UK.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE credit crunch could hasten the end of free banking in the UK as institutions look for ways to increase their revenues, a report predicts today. Professor Merlin Stone, of Bristol Business School, said free banking was likely to be scaled back, with banks instead likely to ...
Cold snap sets back the daffodil harvest; Even snowdrops took their time to bloom this year.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Mari Ropstad WELSH gardens will be less colourful this spring because of this winter's freezing temperatures, horticultural experts forecast yesterday. The warning came as Wales braced itself for the second cold snap of the year with up to eight inches of ...
Lembit reveals how his romantic plans were left in Roman ruins by documentary crew; MP opens his heart over failed romance.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Mike Jones LEMBIT OPIK has broken his silence on the collapse of his relationship with Gabriela Irimia - and revealed how his carefully planned proposal in Rome was ruined by a television crew filming a documentary on the Cheeky Girls. The Montgomeryshire MP, ...
Survey finds 29% splash their cash rather than saving.(News)
Feb 02, 2009 ... A THIRD of Britons do not have a savings account, with many admitting they spend all of their cash each month, a new survey shows. About29%of people said they did not save money because they always spent it all, while 4% claimed they kept their cash at home because they did not ...
The intensity of staying awake in front of the telly; that's typical.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Steve Groves I'M NOT sure for how much longer I can continue to be at the forefront of modern thinking in this country. It's a bit like being a super-criminal - always one step ahead of the style police. The pressure of being a lifestyle prophet is getting ...
Western Mail COMMENT: Social justice and the problem of debt.(Leaders)
Feb 02, 2009 ... THE Assembly Government's launch of a scheme to improve financial skills is a practical response to the dire situation confronting the nation. This is not an example of a nanny state in action, but a recognition that many of Wales' most vulnerable people may fall victim to loan ...
Letter: Britain owes no favours to Israel.(Letters)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: IDRIS BERRY SIR - The BBC must recognise that Britain owes no favours to Israel, if upsetting Israel is the reason for the Corporation's reluctance to broadcast requests for aid into Gaza. On July 22, 1946, Jewish terrorists blew up parts of the King David ...
Letter: Opencast secrecy.(Letters)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: J L STANFIELD SIR - It is noted that the Ffos-y-Fran opencast mine in Merthyr Tydfil is to be the subject of consideration by the European Parliament to find out if the action of the WAG in approving the scheme was in breach of European directives. As a ...
Letter: Sick politicking.(Letters)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: RUSSELL HOPKINS SIR - The proposed reorganisation of the Welsh NHS by Edwina Hart, the present Minister of Health, will reduce the number of Local Health Boards from the 22 introduced by Jane Hutt just six years ago, with their setting up costs of pounds 68m, to seven. ...
Today's poll.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Cast your vote on walesonline.co.uk Should people have the right to conduct their official business in Welsh? (see page ...
A POSTCARD FROM WALES.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Send your pictures together with contact details to Saffron Jenkins at wmreaderpics@mediawales.co.uk ...
End of the road for Sixpenny Cabs; RETRO REPORT February, 1887 How we covered...(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Edited by Tony Woolway TUESDAY evening saw the last of the sixpenny cabs. Today no cabby in the country will accept a fare less than a shilling. This is not a little startling, for it was only about the beginning of the winter 1885 that Birmingham achieved considerable ...
Letter: Tide before wind.(Letters)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: LIZ EALES SIR - I read with interest your article by Professor Richard B Davies of Swansea University, quoting their success in their high-quality research ("Swansea University staff rejoice as they are recognised as world leaders in research", Jan 22). I ...
Letter: Bring back the ferry.(Letters)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: DAVID WALTERS SIR - I read with interest your article, "Tide of recession could float Swansea to Cork ferry again" (Jan 23). It is imperative that the huge efforts of two Cork-based businessmen, namely Adrian Brentnall and John Hosford, together with a host ...
Letter: Criminal sentence.(Letters)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: MAX BURGESS SIR - How sad to read of more animal rights campaigners getting ridiculously long prison sentences. I would agree with Heather Nicholson's father that she is more a saint than a criminal. Unfortunately, all through history the people ...
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: John Updike A healthy male adult bore consumes ...
Work of Welsh 'master' on tour; Box Office arts & entertainment.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Edited by Karen Price WELSH dramatist, William Samuel Jones may not have achieved the international recognition bestowed on his Irish counterpart Samuel Beckett but the two playwrights had much more in common than a shared Christian name. Both, in their own ...
Why Wales has a special place in the heart of Artes Mundi prize winner who has the world at his feet; As the nominations open for Artes Mundi 4, the world's largest visual arts prize of its kind, the award's chief executive and artistic director Tessa Jackson finds out what the last winner has been up to.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Tessa Jackson IT'S nine months since Indian artist N S Harsha walked away with the Artes Mundi 3 prize. I recently met him for a sandwich while he was engaged in painting a new work onto the walls of the Serpentine Gallery in London's Hyde Park. ...
Students' odyssey for theatre funds; arts news bulletin.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... STUDENTS from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama are getting together tomorrow to raise money for Odyssey Theatre, ...
Young singers shortlisted for final; arts news bulletin.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... FOUR young singers have been shortlisted for the final of the Principality Building Society Welsh Musical Theatre Young Singer of the Year competition. Alun Hawke, 19, from Bridgend; ...
Stephan to open guitarist season; arts news bulletin.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... BLACKWOOD Miners Institute has joined forces with Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club to bring a number of prominent guitarists to the venue. The first this ...
Photographer to talk pictures; arts news bulletin.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... DOCUMENTARY photographer Rhodri Jones will give a talk on his work at Aberystwyth arts Centre on ...
HEALTH: Tenovus will continue to fund genetics research.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Health Editor Madeleine Brindley WELSH cancer charity Tenovus will continue to fund a genetics research team at Cardiff University. The cancer genetics research team works on a number of projects aimed at raising awareness of inherited cancer and improving ...
NHS starts to count cost of unhealthy snacks ban; Health trusts set to lose pounds 300,000 as a result of changes.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Madeleine Brindley Health Editor REMOVING unhealthy snacks and drinks from hospital vending machines will cost the NHS more than pounds 300,000 a year. No high-sugar, salt and fat foods are allowed to be sold in any vendingmachines in hospitals. ...
'A politician chairing the NHS is a bad idea' HEALTH Jonathan Morgan, Conservative Shadow Health Minister, looks at what he believes are the real issues behind Edwina Hart's decision on the location of neurosurgery services in South Wales.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Jonathan Morgan THE incredible events which unfolded two weeks ago, when the Health Minister was exposed as having ignored her own officials when deciding on the future of neurosurgery in South Wales, underlines a problem with the way the NHS is to be structured. ...
WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE? HEALTH.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... EARACHE is very common, especially in young children, but it can occur at any age. It is usually due to problems in the outer ear - from the earlobe to the eardrum - or the middle ear (behind the eardrum) and is typically caused by wax or infection. If wax is to ...
It's easy to criticise, but looking beyond bad headlines will reveal the positives; HEALTH THE PROFESSIONALS.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... Byline: Stewart Greenwell THE past three months have been reminiscent of many periods in social work and social services. A child has died in circumstances that have placed public sector services in full public glare, particularly the work of social workers. ...
Midwifery lecturers win award; BREAKING HEALTH NEWS.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... TWO midwifery lecturers at the University of Glamorgan have won a major award. Janine Wyn Davies, a senior lecturer in midwifery, and Nancy Thomas, the lead midwife in education, were awarded the 2009 Excellence in Midwifery Education at the Royal College of Midwives' annual ...
Psoriasis sufferers sought; BREAKING HEALTH NEWS.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... PSORIASIS sufferers are being urged to take part in a survey to reveal the true impact of the condition. The results of the UK-wide survey will give an insight into how psoriasis affects those diagnosed beyond their physical symptoms. Gladys Edwards, from the ...
Older people forum appointment; BREAKING HEALTH NEWS.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... WENDY BOURTON has been appointed the new chairwoman of the National Partnership Forum for Older People. The group was set up in 2004 by the Welsh Assembly Government to provide independent advice to ...
Nominations wanted for award; BREAKING HEALTH NEWS.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... PATIENTS are being asked to nominate an NHS employee or team for a new award. The Hywel Dda NHS Trust award scheme will recognise staff members who have given patients outstanding care. Nominations can be made by members of the public, patients, carers, relatives, ...
Mental health hospital to open; BREAKING HEALTH NEWS.(Features)
Feb 02, 2009 ... A NEW16-bed low secure mental health hospital is set to open this month in Pembrokeshire. The pounds 4.5m development by Surehaven Ltd for NHS patients will open next to South Pembrokeshire Hospital. The unit will treat people aged 18 to 65 and will also include an ...