News Release

16th March 2006

ROGER THAYNE'S RESIGNATION

Michael Fabricant has expressed his "sadness and concern" over the shock resignation of Roger Thayne, Chief Executive of the Staffordshire Ambulance Service.

Michael says: "Under Roger's leadership, the Staffordshire Ambulance Service has out-performed all other ambulance services in Europe with the fastest response times to emergency calls. His resignation is a personal shock and, I fear, a reaction to the Government's plans to merge the Staffordshire Ambulance Service in with the west midlands. Despite the Prime Minister's assurance yesterday and Patricia Hewitt's, the Health Secretary's, assurances that the merger has yet to be decided, I fear that this is a done deal. I will be collecting a petition on Friday from Lichfield City Council urging that our Ambulance Service be kept and will be passing it on to the Health Secretary. I have no doubt that if the Staffordshire Ambulance Service is swallowed up into a larger west midlands service, many Staffordshire lives will be lost unnecessarily. I will continue to fight against this. Time is critical when dealing with heart attack and sudden stroke victims.