AMBULANCE staff are prepared for a possible Sars outbreak in the region - but the public are being urged not to panic.

Paramedics have been advised to check patients' travel history before taking them to hospital, and they have been equipped with masks.

"We've checked all the available data and had data from public health directors," said Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service Trust's director of operations, Steve McGuinness at yesterday's board meeting.

"We've informed staff of what to do if they suspect someone has Sars. They should put on a mask and alert the hospital prior to leaving the house with the patient."

He said they were offering staff as much protection as they could.

Director of clinical services Brian Chambers said they needed to keep an eye on the disease but it was not thought to be that infectious.

"If there were large pockets of it in the UK, it would be different," he said.

Mr Chambers said he thought it was unlikely that paramedics would come into contact with people with Sars.

"It's going to be unusual at this stage to be called out to someone with the disease on a 999 call," he said.

"Most people would go to their doctor."