AN AMBULANCE service which covers part of Oxfordshire is looking to merge with a foundation trust.
The Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, which covers the part of Oxfordshire roughly west of Faringdon, is going through the process of merging with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.
Along with Oxfordshire’s Ridgeway Partnership, it is among 21 trusts considered not viable as standalone foundation trusts.
But spokesman John Oliver said: “We are aware that GWAS is being named in media coverage as one of 21 NHS trusts in a similar position. It is categorically not the case that GWAS is failing financially — the trust achieved its planned financial surplus last year (2011-12) and anticipates doing so again this year.
“Nor is the trust failing clinically or operationally, as can be seen by the current ambulance quality indicators available on the Department of Health website.”
If the two ambulance trusts merger is approved, a single ambulance service will serve the whole South West of England.
The merger is likely to be complete by January 2013.
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