PLANS to merge Gloucestershire Ambulance Trust with failing services in Wiltshire and Avon are causing concern among politicians and ambulance workers.

The proposed merger - designed to save £1.6 million per year - has been slammed by Stroud MP David Drew.

Gloucestershire's ambulance service received two out of three stars in 2003/4 from the Healthcare Commission, which monitors NHS performance.

Wiltshire and Avon both received no stars.

Mr Drew said: "I am not in the game of sorting out other people's problems.

"If they have got problems then we can help and we have helped, but I don't think it's fair to say if someone's got a problem then we have got to reorganise what we have got in Gloucestershire.

"What is the purpose of these changes? Are we moving away from any local accountability?"

Ambulance Service Union rep Nick Earnshaw said workers fear possible job losses.

Mr Earnshaw said: "We understand the merger will give the trust more purchasing power but the support workers could be quite adversely affected by it."

The Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority is holding public meetings about the merger on July 27 and September 6 at 6pm at its headquarters in Chippenham.

But Ela Pathak-Sen, chair of Gloucestershire Ambulance Patient and Public Involvement Forum, criticised the way public consultation had been managed.

Ms Pathak-Sen said: "Having a public meeting in Chippenham where there are no public transport links in the evening is nonsense. I wonder how they are expecting people to get there."

A spokesman for the health authority said: "It's not for me to comment on what feelings are in Gloucestershire but we wanted to focus on the overall picture.

"We have some of the smallest services in the country and they really don't have enough capacity to meet government targets.

"There will possibly be some job cuts in senior management, but not on the front line."

The deadline for objections is October 7.

Those wishing to express their views can email ambulancereview@agwsha.nhs.co.uk, call 01249 858640 to book a place at the meetings or write to Ambulance Review, Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority, Jenner House, Langley Park Estate, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 1CG.