AMBULANCE SERVICES IN THE NORTH WEST OF ENGLAND

Motion Text

That this House notes that quick ambulance response times in medical emergencies have a positive impact on patient outcomes; recognises the need for effective and efficient ambulance services but also the need for close identification of existing services with the communities they serve; believes that there is too broad a spectrum of geographies and communities of Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria for a single ambulance trust to work effectively; further believes that artificial amalgamation of existing ambulance trusts without regard for local identity to be a retrograde step; and considers that a merger of the four current North West ambulance services would present unacceptable risks to members of the public who were unfortunate enough to require emergency medical help.