Michael Fabricant today met protesters from all over Staffordshire
including paramedics and supporters who had come down to London to hand
in a petition to the Department of Health demanding that the
Staffordshire Ambulance not be merged into a west midlands regional
service. "This is one of those rare occasions when, I believe, this
issue is a matter of life and death" says Michael. "With the chance of
being resuscitated from a heart attack by paramedics in Staffordshire
being four and a half times greater than in the west midlands, the
Government will have blood on its hands if it forces this merger through
and we have to endure the end of our Staffordshire Ambulance Service.

Photograph shows Michael Fabricant with protesters outside the House of
Commons.

"I cannot remember a time when all 12 Staffordshire MPs, regardless of
political party, have been so united against the Government and its
proposals. Many fear that the merger is a stitch up and will go ahead,
regardless. I suspect this is true, but I still hope that the
Government will see sense at the last minute. These plans for
regionalisation are just pure dogma: they will not help the well being
of people in Staffordshire.