Patients and relatives are being asked to share their experiences of waiting for planned operations. A Wales Audit Office survey, which launches today, will gather patient experiences from all corners of the country to help evaluate how the NHS in Wales is managing waiting times.

Auditor General for Wales, Huw Vaughan Thomas, said today:

The examination is part of his programme of value for money reviews and will answer the question: “Is the Welsh Government’s approach to rolling out broadband infrastructure to households and businesses likely to deliver its intended benefits?”

The 2007-2013 EU structural funding programmes in Wales – which help deliver jobs, growth and sustainable development - has progressed well compared with previous programmes. But, it is too early to assess the overall impact. A report by the Auditor General for Wales has found that, despite certain difficulties in the early stages, the 2007-2013 programmes have benefited from better management arrangements. And, while the overall impact of the programmes may not be fully evident for some time after they have closed, there are positive signs from ongoing evaluations.