Ambulance trust mergers discussed

People in the West Midlands are being urged to have their say over the merging of the region's ambulance services at a meeting later.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service was formed out of the mergers of the Hereford and Worcester, Coventry and Warwickshire and West Midlands trusts.

The Public and Patient Involvement in Health Forum is hosting its AGM in Birmingham.

Chairman Eve Meredith said she wanted the public to have their say.

The combined service was launched in 2006, but Staffordshire Ambulance Service was not included amid fears it would damage response times.

'Good news'

Ms Meredith said there was now pressure on Staffordshire to join the regional service.

She said the meeting would discuss this and concern over the possible closure of control rooms.

She added: "The good news is that, since the merger, best practice has been shared.

"Perhaps out of two services in the whole of the country, West Midlands is one of the ones that has hit all of the national targets."

The meeting is being held at Birmingham Council House at 1830 BST.