PLANS to merge Wiltshire ambulance service with emergency services in Avon and Gloucestershire will put lives at risk, MPs have warned.

South west NHS bosses are currently considering whether to merge the region's three ambulance trusts to improve 999 waiting times.

It is believed the shake-up could improve services in Wiltshire the county's ambulance trust has been awarded no stars in NHS performance ratings for two consecutive years after failing to meet response time targets.

But, during a Parliamen-tary debate, Cotswolds Tory MP Geoffrey Clifton Brown said any merger would put the lives of his constituents at risk and make no improvement to services in Wiltshire.

He said: "I would to express my strongest objections to such a merger, which

would not only damage the services concerned at great cost, but also endanger many of my constituents in an unacceptable manner.

"Lives will be put at risk and I want to put that in the starkest of terms to the Minister."

He added Gloucestershire ambulance service would be forced to carry the poor performance of Wiltshire.

"Such a merger would increase the demands put on the successful Gloucester-shire service dramatically, as it strived to bring its new partners up to speed.

"One could also assume that this Government will not provide any extra funding necessary to support this exercise.

"The sterling efforts of the Gloucestershire ambulance service would be in trying to help the under-resourced and over-stretched services in Wiltshire and Avon," he said.

North Wiltshire MP James Gray is also opposed to the regionalisation of the service.

He said the county would be lost in the amalgamation, which would lead to the domination of Bristol.

A study into the structure of the three trusts began last year.

An independent review carried out at the end of October on behalf of Avon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire strategic health authority said officials should either create a single ambulance service for the region, or a new management board that would oversee the separate bodies.

Health Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman accused Mr Clifton Brown of scoring political points and said the status quo remained an option.

He said: "I really would counsel him in the interests of his constituents to

not over egg his case and suggest that these are firm proposals.

"The only thing on the table is a proposal to consult on the

matter."

He added: "The potential benefits to constituents are there to see.

"Issues like faster response times and better efficiency are all potential benefits for the constituents of members in this chamber.

"It is not up to Ministers or Whitehall to make this decision.

"It wants local people to come up with the best strategy for themselves."

Newdesk