CAMPAIGNERS TAKE BATTLE TO SAVE BRANSFORD AMBULANCE EMERGENCY CONTROL TO JUDICIAL REVIEW

8.35.12pm GMT Thu 31st Jan 2008

A Parliamentary Candidate and staff from Bransford Emergency Ambulance Control in Worcestershire will today start proceedings to take their battle to save *Bransford EOC to the High Court in London for judicial review.

A Letter Before Claim has been served on West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust stating that the decision taken by the Board at its meeting on 28th November 2007 was "unlawful" and "likely to result in a court quashing the decision". The Trust have fourteen days to respond and have been asked to reverse the decision.

Richard Burt, the Liberal Democrat's Health Spokesperson for the West Midlands, fought with staff throughout last summer in a high profile campaign to save Bransford. He denounced the consultation leading to the decision as a "whitewash", saying the process was so flawed that the decision "should not remain unchallenged".

Mr Burt, who will stand for the parliamentary seat in West Worcestershire (including Bransford) at the next General Election, worked closely with leading staff campaigner, Liz Kabani to explore the possibilities of a judicial review.

Richard Burt said:

"I have seen the Bransford team in action and they do a fantastic job providing emergency ambulance cover for Worcestershire and Herefordshire. It would be tragedy if all that local teamwork and experience were lost by closing down Bransford and moving operations to Brierley Hill in the Black Country.

"The consultation exercise was flawed from start to finish and slanted towards the Trust's own single proposal.

"Our quest has been to expose those flaws and demonstrate that the Trust reached an unlawful decision. We want to get a fair hearing of all the alternatives and a decision that is right for Worcestershire, Herefordshire and for the West Midlands.

Liz Kabani said:

"At Bransford Control we're delighted the legal team have given the green light for the application to go to Judicial Review. It's what we've been fighting for since November.

"The feeling that the public consultation had been conducted improperly and was damaged beyond repair grew with every meeting staff attended and every statement made by the Trust Board. The Trust Board statement that the decision to close Bransford was not financially based lacked credibility from the start. Since the decision was made in November we've had a state of the art vehicle communications system removed and replaced by an inferior cheaper system. It's set communication between control and operational staff back 10 years, a view held by all who use it. We'd been promised that there would be no technological regression or reduction in efficiency. It's happened.

"We hope the Trust reverse the decision made 28th November removing the necessity for court action."

Richard Burt said he hoped the challenge would be part funded by legal aid, but added "we will have to raise a community contribution of up to £5000 to help pay legal fees. Anyone who would like to contribute or could help raise funds to save Bransford should email Liz Kabani at liz.kabani@saveyoureoc.co.uk "