Initial joy that the Staffordshire Ambulance Service is to be saved
(from merger with the West Midlands Ambulance Service) following leaks
by Government spin doctors has evaporated after reading the fine print.

In a letter to Michael Fabricant, the Minister of State at the
Department of Health, Lord Warner, says in an addendum to his letter:
"Staffordshire will remain separate for up to two years working in
Partnership with the West Midlands during that period".

"This is merely a stay of execution" says Michael Fabricant. "I was
lead to believe that the Ambulance Service was to be saved following
strong representations made by all 12 Labour and Conservative MPs in
Staffordshire to Health Ministers. But it is clear after reading the
fine print that there will now be a transition period lasting less than
24 months after which the Staffordshire Ambulance Service will be
absorbed totally into the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

"Apart from my anger that the Government has tried to mislead MPs and
journalists by implying that our Ambulance Service is saved, I am
desperately alarmed that within 2 years, our award winning service will
be no more. I hope that the united front so far maintained by all
Staffordshire MPs can be maintained to stop this merger from
progressing.

"In any event, as far as I am concerned, the fight to save the
Staffordshire Ambulance Service still goes on! Too many lives in
Staffordshire will be lost if the merger goes ahead."