Michael Fabricant visited Lichfield Ambulance Service today (Friday 7th
November) to catch up on how plans are progressing following the merger
of the Staffordshire and West Midlands Ambulance Services. "I have been
very anxious to ensure that standards are not allowed to fall in
Staffordshire", says Michael. "But I have been reassured by what I have
seen today."

Michael met Anthony Marsh, Head of the West Midlands Ambulance Service;
Keith Prior, Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer and Controller of
Staffordshire; Lee Washington, the Divisional Manager for Staffordshire;
and Dean Jenkins, the Area Manager in charge of Lichfield.

"I have been very keen to ensure that the level of resuscitation rates
are maintained" says Michael. "It’s important that an ambulance arrives
quickly, but if the crew aren’t trained or have inadequate supplies of
equipment and drugs on board, arriving swiftly is a fat lot of use. But
I am pleased that the vital statistic – the rate of Return of
Spontaneous Circulation – is being maintained at a high level. That
means that heart attack victims still stand a better chance of recovery
in Staffordshire than elsewhere in the country.

"I also understand that when the new Operations Centre opens in Stafford
by summer 2009, response times should improve still further. In the
meantime, new ambulances are being supplied to Lichfield next month
which will also help to improve the service.

"I very much welcomed the opportunity of meeting some of the senior
ambulance officers and hope to meet the paramedic crews manning the new
ambulances when they begin operation" Michael adds.

Photograph shows Michael Fabricant (left) with Anthony Marsh.