Nurses in Wales will be paid less than their Scottish colleagues as ministers ruled out breaking ranks with England. The Welsh Assembly Government last night said it would follow England’s lead and stagger a derisory and below inflation 2.5% pay rise for nurses throughout the year.

One in five smokers say they will try to stop smoking when Wales’ smoking ban is introduced, a survey has shown. The research was conducted for No Smoking Day, which comes weeks before smoking inside public places and workplaces is banned in Wales.

Ambulances have been freed up to answer 999 calls after GPs were drafted into control rooms. The Welsh Ambulance Service yesterday revealed it had exceeded its response times target in Carmarthen, just two weeks after the GP triage system was introduced in three control rooms.

More patients should be having day surgery if Wales is to meet challenging waiting time targets, an influential report will say today. The National Assembly’s audit committee believes that unless day surgery rates improve, the NHS will not achieve significant government milestones.

Wales’ chief medical officer will tour the country this week to discuss public health matters. Dr Tony Jewell will take part in a series of public meetings as part of the Welsh Assembly Government’s response to Health Challenge Wales – the national focus for action to build a healthier nation.

All Mobile Creche Company franchises in Wales will be required to provide Welsh-speaking staff, even in the most anglicised areas. And in cities with large ethnic-minority populations, franchisees will need staff fluent in the relevant languages.

Nurses have called on Health Minister Brian Gibbons to increase pressure on Westminster over their annual pay review. It comes as Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr has implemented the recommended pay increase of 2.5%.

Fears have been expressed that the creation of a new “super agency” covering all equality issues could result in Welsh input being downgraded.
In October, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be launched, taking over from three existing bodies – the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.

Councillors have attacked their own council for spending more than £4.5m last year on agency staff. An investigation by a scrutiny committee of Flintshire County Council says reliance on temporary staff by other councils does not excuse Flintshire’s “laissez-faire approach” to using such staff.

Fears have been expressed that the creation of a new “super agency” covering all equality issues could result in Welsh input being downgraded. In October, the Commission for Equality and Human Rights will be launched, taking over from three existing bodies – the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality and the Disability Rights Commission.