News Release

17th November 2006

RESPONSE TO CHAIRMAN OF STAFFORDSHIRE AMBULANCE

Responding to the public letter of the 16th November written by Robert Lake, Chairman of the Staffordshire Ambulance Service, Michael Fabricant comments: "No explanation is given why, since the Partnership with the West Midlands Ambulance Service began, drugs and equipment still in use with other ambulance services in England are suddenly considered to be illegal or dangerous for use in Staffordshire. No-one is criticising the sheer professionalism of paramedics in the Staffordshire Ambulance Service, it is the new management over whom a question mark now hangs. It is a tired old technique by beleaguered politicians to defend themselves by saying that any criticism of them lowers morale of workers.

"Drugs and equipment withdrawn in Staffordshire are still in use in ambulances and by First Responders elsewhere. Why has Staffordshire alone determined that the Medicines Act is being breached? This is the question that need to be answered. And while I applaud the rapid response times of our Ambulance Service and First Responders, without equipment like ResQPOD and vital drugs being available in time, mortality rates in critical cases are bound to increase. It is common sense.

"The new management needs to stop faffing and do what is right for Staffordshire."

The letter from Robert Lake follows:-

I am writing in regard to a number of press articles that have appeared over recent weeks criticising Staffordshire Ambulance Service.

I would like to provide some reassurance to the public that the service provided in this county remains of a high standard and that every member of staff is committed to maintaining that. Some of the claims that have appeared I consider to be spurious at best. To say that the Trust's performance is being 'dumbed down' does a great discredit to the hard work that goes on every single day.

This organisation is open about our performance and we are monitored by the Healthcare Commission to ensure that our figures are accurate. These figures are published on a regular basis and the Trust has nothing to hide in this regard.

For the record the following figures show the performance of the Trust over the last 12 months including November (month to date) against the Department of Health standard of 75%.

Ambulance staff, whether in this county or anywhere across the West Midlands, work incredibly hard to provide the best patient care, as do the many hundreds of Community First Responders (CFRs) across the region.

In regard to the actions taken to reduce the number of drugs that can be administered by CFRs in Staffordshire, the decision was taken by this Trust alone on the grounds of patient safety. Operating within a legal framework for medicines is essential for every member of staff and volunteer and protects each individual and the Trust as well as patients.

If there was even a hint that another NHS organisation was operating outside such a legal framework, the public and regulatory bodies would have major concerns, and rightly so. We have always said that this action is a temporary measure and will remain in place until we have completed the essential reviews that are necessary to establish the facts of the matter. We have also said that we will re-introduce these drugs if, and when, it is legal and safe to do so. The public would expect nothing less.

I would call on everyone to wait until these reviews are completed and stop undermining the excellent work of our staff and volunteers who do their job in often difficult circumstances. I am extremely proud of our ambulance service and I am sure that every member of the public is too.