LIB DEM PRESIDENT BACKS CALL TO SAVE BRANSFORD EOC

9.30.02pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 3rd Sep 2007

President of the Liberal Democrats, Simon Hughes MP today visited the closure-threatened Ambulance Service call centre at Bransford to back the 'save your EOC' campaign run by the local EOC staff and the Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire, Richard Burt.

Simon, who was accompanied by Mr. Burt, met with call centre staff and a representative of the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust to discuss the future of the site.

Simon Hughes MP, who grew up in Herefordshire, commented:

"It is vital the public has confidence in our ambulance emergency call service. The Control Centre at Bransford has a wonderful reputation and has done a fantastic job.

"The plans of the Trust seem to ignore local knowledge, local commitment and local views. I am convinced that any closure of the call centre here at Bransford would be to the detriment of emergency ambulance cover in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"Not only would the two counties loose the crucial local knowledge of the staff, but would be at real risk of having ambulances swallowed up by Birmingham and the Black Country.

"It is a shame that local NHS managers are appointed and not democratically elected. If they were, they may be more receptive to the concerns of local people.

"I urge the Trust to listen to the people of Herefordshire and Worcestershire and to look again at other options - I'm sure there must be a better alternative and call on the Trust to respond positively to this constructive and effective campaign.

"I shall take this campaign to my colleagues in the Parliamentary Party, and promise that we will do all we can to help the staff and Richard to safeguard Bransford EOC."

Richard Burt, who speaks for the Liberal Democrats on health matters across the West Midlands region said:

"I am confident that with increased pressure on the Trust in these final few weeks, we can save Bransford, and look to a brighter future for ambulance cover across the West Midlands region."