AMBULANCE workers have put out an emergency warning that the service is deeply under strain - and patients could die.

Paramedics in Kidderminster raised the alarm after answering night calls from across the two counties, sometimes leaving the whole of the Wyre Forest - 96,200 people - without cover.

Extra stress has been put on the service since some night crews at Worcester and Hereford were axed a year ago, leaving other crews to cope.

Meanwhile, one of the two night crews patrolling Wyre Forest has been seconded to Bromyard in Herefordshire - at least 16 miles away.

And since the full casualty service at Kidderminster Hospital closed, many patients now have to be taken to Worcester - an hour's round trip.

In Worcestershire, staff were threatening to leave and many were taking on part-time positions to ease stress ,, said Stuart Gardner, branch secretary for the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel.

"I hate to say it, but if this carries on, someone will die. The crews are going all around the county, which means if there's a call in Kidderminster it's a long way back.

"We're also having to deal with relatives who are angry they had to wait so long for an ambulance as we were stuck in Worcester," he said.

The increased workload is shown by the station mileage, which rose from 8,308 in November 1999 to 25,751 in November 2001.

They are also angry at the amount of single responder vehicles being sent to emergency calls to meet time targets. The crews can administer oxygen and use defibrillators, but are not allowed to move patients until the ambulance arrives.

Today, Wyre Forest MP Dr Richard Taylor said he planned to take the ambulance staff concerns further.

"The staff are under a lot of stress from the increased journey times, the lack of facilities, and lack of support from management," said Dr Taylor.

"They're extremely unhappy and it just shows the crisis in this county."

Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust said its performance on reaching response targets was the second best in the country.

"We have a dynamic service and move vehicles around the county to cover areas," said director of operations Steve McGuinness.

"Yes, on occasion vehicles have to travel distances to get to patients, but it's the nature of our business and they're being treated no differently to any other members of our staff.

"The main issue is getting ambulances to patients within a critical time, and we're proud of being second best in the country at doing this."