WEST Midlands Ambulance Service has taken the next step towards merging with its neighbouring Staffordshire service.
The board has agreed to seven criteria for merger. These include ensuring that both trusts consistently meet or exceed national targets - including reaching 75 per cent of emergency or life threatening incidents within eight minutes and 95 per cent in 19 minutes.
Both trusts also need to balance the books at the end of March, which they are on target to achieve.
West Midlands Ambulance Trust chairman Sir Graham Meldrum said: "This is an important step forward for both organisations. The staff and boards of both trusts are convinced that this merger will be good for patients and good for staff. We hope that the final merger will take place towards the end of this year."
The proposals will go to the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority Board meeting on Tuesday, March 27, for approval. Staff numbers will not be changed as a result of the merger.
The West Midlands trust was formed last July after the merger of Hereford and Worcester, Coventry and Warwickshire and West Midlands services. It was agreed then that Staffordshire Ambulance Service would towards amalgamation with the new trust at a later date.
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