PEOPLE in Wales are being invited to share their experience of the Welsh Ambulance Service – Emergency Medical Services, Patient Care Services and NHS Direct Wales – and make suggestions about how it could improve.

Chief Executive Elwyn Price-Morris said: “We are committed to ensuring that the people of Wales are actively involved in decisions about their care, and that their involvement is at the heart of service planning and delivery.

“Capturing service user experience is important in helping us find out what people think of our service. By including patients and the public in the Trust’s work, it can help to change and improve the way care and services are delivered.”

Patient stories already captured are shared routinely at Board meetings, and organisational learning is shared among colleagues – but the Trust is keen to hear from even more people.

The appeal is being made by the Partners in Healthcare team, whose role it is to engage with service users and stakeholders and educate the public about how to use the service appropriately.

Search for ‘Have Your Say’ at www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk or email Partners in Healthcare at ppi.team@wales.nhs.uk

Alternatively, phone 01792 311773 or write to the Welsh Ambulance Service/NHS Direct Wales, FREEPOST NAT6805, Swansea, SA7 9ZZ.

NHS Direct Wales is a health advice and information service available 24 hours a day, every day, when someone is feeling ill and is unsure what to do.

It became part of the Welsh Ambulance Service in April 2007, and is staffed by nurses who offer confidential advice about health, illness and the NHS.

For more information, visit www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk or call NHS Direct Wales 0845 46 47.