North Yorkshire ambulance service announced today it intends to merge with the Humberside and Cleveland services.

A dramatic statement was issued at today's public board meeting by North Yorkshire Trust chairman John Nelson.

He stressed the merger would not be rushed to meet unrealistic deadlines, and that any final decision would be subject to public consultation and a final decision by health secretary Frank Dobson.

But if the merger does go ahead, it could mean York being the effective headquarters of the new, enlarged trust.

Mr Nelson said the merger would allow management and overhead costs to be slashed, releasing cash for front-line services.

He said: "If these are ploughed back into the provision of patient services it can only be to the benefit of the community."

He said the response times to 999 calls in the more rural areas of North Yorkshire would be improved by access to new funds and the new, enlarged trust would allow more 'effective deployment of resources'.

Unions and health watchdogs today welcomed the move.

UNISON spokesman Brian Wheeler said they anticipated there would be job losses at managerial level once the merger takes place.

But he added: "At the moment we don't think any ambulance workers will loose their jobs, and in the future, particularly in York the service to the public will be extremely efficient, and this can only improve the overall service offered to our patients.

Malcolm Palmer, of York Community Health Council, welcomed the decision, but his organisation would be monitoring the merger closely.

"Obviously we realise that the reason for the merger is to improve the improve the efficiency of the service. And by reducing the managerial level more money can be used on the patients."

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