AMBULANCE control centre staff are set for a substantial pay increase to bring them into line with fire and police control staff.

But the announcement has caused disquiet among paramedics and ambulance technicians whose pay will remain at current levels under the Agenda for Change shake up of NHS salaries which will come into force in October, next year.

The ambulance control staff will move to Devizes in the first week of June.

And their pay rises, which will coincide with the move, will see a £12,000 salary increase to £15,000 for a qualified ambulance controller.

Chief executive of the Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Dennis Lauder, refused to discuss figures but said the board of the ambulance trust had decided to recognise the qualifications of its control staff by awarding them extra pay.

He said: "The pay of these staff had fallen behind that of their colleagues in previous years and this is now being rectified.

"The proposed increase will apply from the commencement of Control Room operations at the new tri-service centre in Devizes.

"All other staff will receive pay increases in line with nationally negotiated settlements and these will be benchmarked to compare with equivalent posts in other ambulance trusts across the country."

He added that he was due to discuss the issue with trade union representatives in early June and refused to comment further until then.

General Secretary of the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel, Mark Weatherhead said: "The pay of operations staff varies, depending on what grade they are on.

"In general terms, I think that we are looking at staff who are currently earning about £12,000 having an increase in wages by about £3,000.

"The idea is to bring them into line with the fire control staff."

He said that while the control staff will receive a substantial pay increase under the restructuring, the wages of ambulance paramedics and technicians could suffer.

Under sweeping changes, ambulance technicians who currently earn £19,500 will see their basic wage drop to £17,500, which will be boosted by extra pay for shift work.

But Mr Weatherhead said some members of staff could see a drop in their pay, if they are not given the extra shifts.

"This can make life very difficult for staff in this position who are trying to get a mortgage, where your buying power is calculated on your basic wage."

Ambulance paramedics currently earn about £21,000, depending on their experience and skills. Under the restructuring, their wage will remain largely the same, with a starting band of £20,000 which will be enhanced to reflect qualifications and experience.