Forward Work Programme

Our forward work programme for performance audit includes value for money examinations, local government studies, and the preparation of summary reports or other outputs on the findings from local work across multiple NHS, central government and/or local government bodies.

This programme sits alongside our annual audit of accounts at over 800 public bodies in Wales and other local performance audit work at certain bodies.

It is focussed on four themes:

  • Tackling inequality
  • Responding to the climate and nature emergency
  • Service resilience and access
  • Well managed public services

We keep our programme under regular review, taking account of the evolving external environment, our own resourcing and the capacity of audited bodies to engage with us. We maintain sufficient flexibility so that we can respond effectively to emerging issues of public or parliamentary concern. Additional outputs may also emerge from ongoing research and development work. The dates below are indicative and subject to change.

To view our published reports, visit our publications page.

Work in progress
Sectors
In Progress
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Challenges for the cultural sector

Summer 2025

This work is considering whether public bodies in the culture sector have appropriate arrangements to secure financial sustainability over the short and longer term, in line with their well-being objectives.

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In Progress
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Commissioning services

Summer 2025

A thematic review at each of the 22 principal councils looking at their arrangements for commissioning services, followed by a national summary report.

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In Progress
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NHS planned care waiting lists

Summer 2025

This report will summarise the findings from work at health boards which has examined the progress being made with planned care recovery and reducing the waiting list backlog.

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In Progress
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Medr - Commission for Tertiary Education and Research

Summer 2025

We will consider the extent to which Medr has applied the sustainable development principle under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 when developing its new strategic plan.

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In Progress
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NHS GP registrations

Summer 2025

A pilot exercise, matching non-medical record details of patients permanently registered with GPs with other data sets.

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In Progress
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Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

Summer 2025

Examining Natural Resources Wales’ (NRW’s) approach to designating SSSIs.

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In Progress
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Urgent and emergency care

Summer 2025

This report will consider the impact of delayed discharges on patient flow within hospitals and on A&E departments, ambulance handovers and response times. It will also comment on progress being made in managing urgent and emergency care demand.

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In Progress
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Temporary accommodation

Summer 2025

A study of how councils and their partners are working to address the increasing demand for temporary accommodation. We will consider current and future financial implications and assess whether there are opportunities to improve value for money.

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In Progress
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The new Velindre Cancer Centre

Summer 2025

This work is examining the decision making process on the new Velindre Cancer Centre by the Welsh Government and Velindre University NHS Trust.

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In Progress
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Capital Planning in Local Government

Summer 2025

Whether councils’ arrangements are supporting them to sustainably deliver value for money, including a focus on roads and adult social care assets.

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In Progress
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NHS digital

Autumn 2025

We will examine the extent to which digital transformation in the NHS is being used to modernize services and improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

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In Progress
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Sustainable Communities for Learning programme

Winter 2025/26

Whether the Welsh Government can demonstrate it is achieving value for money in line with the programme’s aims 

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In Progress
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Additional Learning Needs

Winter 2025/26

Public bodies’ support for children and young people with Additional Learning Needs.

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