PLANS to form a regional ambulance service and Strategic Health Authority (SHA) are being supported by Redditch Council.

At Monday night's full council meeting, members accepted consultation proposals on the scheme.

Council Leader Phil Mould said people were more concerned with the response time from ambulances rather than where they were run from.

And on the subject of the SHA, he said: "Strategic things can be at a regional level."

Meanwhile, Worcestershire Council's cabinet has supported the creation of one primary care trust for the county - going against Redditch Council's preference of keeping the Redditch and Bromsgrove PCT as it is.

But they also agreed to the creation of one SHA for the West Midlands and a regional ambulance service as long as the current high levels of service were maintained.

Cabinet member for adult and community services Councillor Philip Gretton said the move would bring primary care boundaries in line with the county council's boundaries for responsibility for adult social care and services for children.

"Joint commissioning of social care and primary health care services is crucial as 80 per cent of those using social care have a long-term health need," he said.

But Mr Mould said it seemed the county council was looking after its own interests in voting for one PCT and preparing for a centralisation of services if it was to become a unitary authority.

The consultation period on proposals for the NHS revamp is set to end next Wednesday.