Ambulance service vow is 'hollow talk' (From Gazette Series)

Ambulance service vow is 'hollow talk'

GOVERNMENT assurances that people would be consulted over the planned merger of Gloucestershire Ambulance Trust with its Wiltshire and Avon equivalents have been dismissed as "hollow talk" by Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown.

The Tory told Health Minister Jane Kennedy during Questions in the House of Commons that he believed the decision had already been made by officials.

He claimed any public consultation, which the Minister assured him would take place, would be "a sham."

Mr Clifton-Brown told the House: "It should be a government for the people, not against the people."

He said that Gloucestershire's ambulance service was one of the most innovative and efficient in the country.

However, the Strategic Health Authority is considering a merger with the Wiltshire and Avon trusts.

The MP told Ms Kennedy that the review into the proposed merger was extremely unpopular in his constituency.

He said: "It is believed that the merger has already been decided and will take place in September, therefore, the patients' forums that have been organised are a complete sham."

Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Clifton-Brown said: "What on earth is the point of commenting on the review when the decision has already been taken. This Government seems incapable of listening to the people."

Ms Kennedy told Mr Clifton-Brown that the points he made were "valid" but she assured the local community that it would have an opportunity to comment on the review.