PARAMEDICS responding to emergency calls will decide if and how patients will be transported to hospital.

A new pilot scheme set to be rolled out across Wirral aims to speed up response times and improve health care for patients.

But Ray Carrick from the Ambulance Service Union (ASU) expressed concerns that patients may suffer.

It means that individual paramedics in response cars will be first on the scene and can call for a back-up ambulance if required.

The high dependency vehicles will provide transport for patients without the need for a medically equipped ambulance with sirens.

But unions fear that the new system would be flawed if too much responsibility is placed on medics.

They are also worried that the move could mean patients have to wait longer if the paramedic decides that an emergency vehicle is needed.

The scheme, piloted by the North West Ambulance Service will come into force in August and phase one will last for six months.

Area director Paul Ferguson said that it will free-up more emergency response vehicles in Wirral in the midst of a huge increase in demand for 999 services.

"The pilot scheme is part of a long-term strategy for the organisation and highlights the direction we would like to move in," he said. "We have seen a 10% increase in the demand for ambulances year on year, but not everyone who dials 999 needs emergency treatment.

"Most patients' problems can be dealt with outside of hospital and by working alongside other health care providers, we can help to develop other treatment pathways."

He added: "We are stepping up training and education for paramedics to provide them with additional skills in a bid to make more emergency vehicles available.

"There will be no reduction in service, and we will still deploy the nearest vehicle to each call, only our availability and response times will be a lot better, and transporting people from the scene to a treatment centre will be more affective.

"This is a positive thing."

Ray Carrick from the Ambulance Service Union said: "There are a number of issues that we have with the pilot scheme but having said that, we are willing to try it out and see if it will have a positive effect on the community.

"However, we want to share in scrutinising the results of the scheme to make sure that the changes have been beneficial.

"It is important that we have input and can assess any failures but at the moment, the jury is still out and the proof of the pudding is in the eating."

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