I HAVE been extremely concerned by the reports on the difficulties being experienced in Herefordshire with the ambulance services now provided through the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

I was a non-executive director of the Hereford and Worcester NHS Ambulance Trust from 1999 to 2006, when the service was merged with West Midlands.

Concerns were expressed during the discussions on the proposed merger that the special knowledge about providing services to the more remote rural areas of Herefordshire would be lost, that the response times that we had been able to achieve would be diminished and that there would be risks that ambulances would be transferred to the West Midlands conurbation area, particularly at times of high demand.

As a board, we were assured that this would be unlikely. We also knew that the level of local knowledge that the excellent team had at the Bransford Control Centre needed to be maintained. The health scrutiny committee of Herefordshire Council took on a watching brief on these issues.

I am pleased that this watching brief has been maintained, but saddened that the concerns that were expressed at the time of the merger have clearly been proven to be correct.

As a Hereford and Worcester-focused service, the ambulance service and its dedicated staff tried its utmost to respond appropriately to the needs of the local population.

As the West Midlands Ambulance Service, it is clear that services within this county have deteriorated. This can only demonstrate the importance of keeping the strategic direction of services local.

Herefordshire, with its remote rural populations to be served, needs decision-makers who know and understand the constraints, and who can find appropriate solutions to ensure that a high level of service is maintained. The reports received by the council appear to show clearly that this is not currently the case.

I sincerely hope and trust that the PCT and Herefordshire Council will continue to exert pressure on the West Midlands Ambulance Service to ensure that people in this county can have faith in an ambulance service that will respond rapidly and appropriately to their needs.

CHRISTINE FORRESTER, Victoria Road, Kington.