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A series of public hearings will be held across Wales as part of the Auditor General’s Inquiry into the Welsh ambulance service. Members of the public will be invited to share their views and experiences of the service directly with Jeremy Colman, who hopes to publish a report in the autumn.
Oral evidence will be gathered at the meetings and posted on the Inquiry’s website at http://www.wao.gov.uk/ along with other information relating to the Inquiry.
The Inquiry will also draw on written submissions. Anyone wishing to submit written evidence can do so via a form available on the Inquiry website or by writing FREEPOST to: Welsh Ambulance Inquiry, FREEPOST RRBH-GZXC-XGHC, 2-4 Park Grove, Cardiff, CF10 3PA.
Members of the public who would like to attend a hearing but need provision for a language other than Welsh or English are asked to email info@wao.gov.uk or call 029 2026 0260.
The public hearings will be held bilingually at the following locations:
| Date |
Location |
Time |
| 10 Aug |
Brangwyn Hall - Swansea |
start 1730 hrs |
| 11 Aug |
The Newport Centre - Newport |
start 1400 hrs |
| 14 Aug |
Pavillion Conference Centre - Llandrindod Wells |
start 1700 hrs |
| 17 Aug |
Bangor University, Main Arts Lecture Theatre - Bangor |
start 1330 hrs |
| 21 Aug |
Halliwell Centre, Trinity College - Carmarthen |
start 1300 hrs |
| 22 Aug |
Marriott Hotel, Mill Lane - Cardiff |
start 1700 hrs |
Separate meetings, interviews and other fieldwork activity will take place throughout the investigation and will include key parties, such as Trust staff, trade unions and the Assembly Government.
Attention Newsdesks:
If you would like to send a reporter and/or crew to a public hearing, please contact Rachel Harries (Communications Manager) by emailing rachel.harries@wao.gov.uk or phoning 029 2026 2675.
Notes to Editors:
- Jeremy Colman, who has been the Auditor General for Wales since April 2005, accepted the National Assembly’s formal invitation to conduct an inquiry into the ambulance services in Wales following a vote on 11 July 2006.
- The Inquiry will examine key issues relating to the Welsh Ambulance Services Trust. These include the effectiveness of performance standards, structures, staffing issues, financial and resource pressure. It will also consider the implications for the future and make recommendations accordingly.
- Jeremy Colman will use his powers under the Government of Wales Act 1998 and the Public Audit (Wales) Act 2004, which give him access to the Trust’s and to Welsh Assembly Government’s staff and records.
- The Inquiry will be supported by a team of financial and performance experts from the Wales Audit Office and closely integrated with the special review of the trust announced by Healthcare Inspectorate Wales in May.
- The Wales Audit Office was created in April 2005 through the Public Audit (Wales) Act, 2004, which expanded the functions of the Auditor General for Wales and enabled the transfer of staffs from the Audit Commission in Wales and National Audit Office in Wales to his employment.
- The Wales Audit Office is independent of government and is responsible for the annual audit of some £19 billion of annual public expenditure.
- Its mission is to promote improvement, so that people in Wales benefit from accountable, well-managed public services that offer the best possible value for money. It is also committed to identify and spreading good practice across the Welsh public sector.
Ends
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