AMBULANCE service board members are now considering the responses, including a Worcester News petition with 2,092 signatures, to its consultation over the proposed reorganistion of its emergency call centres.

A report summarising the feedback from the three-month consultation has been produced and members of the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust board will hold a meeting in public on Tuesday October 9 to discuss the information.

The trust says there were 318 responses from groups, individuals and organisations - these included the Worcester News petition opposing the closure of the Bransford call centre, a UNISON organised petition with 15,914 opposing the Shrewsbury call centre closure and 240 people supporting the plans.

There were also 110 stories in the media, 127 face to face meetings about the proposals, two websites set up opposing the scheme and 209 people attended public meetings.

Trust chairman Sir Graham Meldrum said: "We are delighted that so many people chose to take part in the consultation.

"The board members will spend the next few days reading the report in detail so that they can gain the best possible understanding of the views expressed."

He said they would meet at the NHS West Midlands in Redditch at 10am on October 9 when two further presentations would be made outlining alternative proposals and the giving a report from an independent consultant. The board will not make a decision at that meeting.

"We want extra time to examine the feedback in detail. We will reconvene on Wednesday November 28 to make a final decision," said Sir Graham. The meeting on Novermber 28 is at Walsall Football Club at 10am.

The feedback report can be viewed by logging onto www.wmas.nhs.uk and clicking on Emergency Operations Centre Reconfiguration Proposal.