NHS Reorganisation

The clock ticks ever faster, but I am sure that those comments have been heard. Today the Staffordshire Sentinel reported that the chief executive of the local ambulance service had suggested that he should form a private company. No doubt that would pose ideological problems for some Members, who would not want a private sector organisation to be funded through the NHS, although it had done such a fantastic job in the past. That would cause some angst to us on the Labour Benches. In principle, it is not necessarily a bad idea to merge ambulance services, because in some areas best practice could be shared. What the west midlands does not want is to lose the fantastic service provided in Staffordshire for something that will not be as good. If the reverse were happening and Staffordshire were the dominant area, that would be better.