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Welsh Ambulance Inquiry - Extra Hearing Dates
07/08/2006
Auditor General announces two new public hearings

Due to popular demand, the Auditor General for Wales has decided to hold an extra two public hearings as part of his Inquiry into the Welsh ambulance service. These will be held on 5 September at the North East Wales Institute in Wrexham (at 1630) and 7 September at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre (at 1630). The new dates are designed to enable more members of the Welsh public to share their views and experiences of the service directly with Jeremy Colman.

Because of the brisk timescale of the Inquiry, the number of public hearings are limited. However, there are other ways people can get in touch with the Inquiry team.

Email: info@wao.gov.uk

Website: Written evidence can be submitted online by visiting http://www.wao.gov.uk/

Postal address: Welsh Ambulance Inquiry, FREEPOST RRBH-GZXC-XGHC, 2-4 Park Grove, Cardiff, CF10 3PA.

Telephone: Please call 029 2026 0260

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 full list of public hearings are as follows:

 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
 05 Sept   North East Wales Institute, Room K1, K Block  - Wrexham   start 1630 hrs
 07 Sept   Aberystwyth Arts Centre - Aberystwyth    start 1630 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. He hopes to publish a report in the autumn.

  • 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.
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Wales Audit Office
24 Cathedral Road
Cardiff
CF11 9LJ

Tel: 029 2032 0500
Fax: 029 2032 0600
Email: info@wao.gov.uk

© Auditor General for Wales