The 'takeover' of a Midland ambulance trust by its neighbour has started despite assurances it would remain independent for at least two years, an MP has claimed.
The West Midlands, the Coventry and Warwickshire and Hereford and Worcester services amalgamated in July to form the new West Central service.
Staffordshire, one of the country's top performing trusts, was given a twoyear reprieve after bosses voiced concerns other regions would not meet their high standards.
However, Tory MP Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) said the withdrawal of the resQpod equipment, used in CPR, at Staffordshire proved the new amalgamated service had already taken over clinical provision.
The device was introduced by Staffordshire three years ago after research indicated it had doubled survival rates in American trials.
Mr Fabricant said a source had told him the prohibition of the resQpod came from West Central Trust bosses already exerting authority over Staffordshire.
"It means clinical governance has been passed from the management of the Staffordshire Ambulance crews to that of the West Midlands," he said.
"Patricia Hewitt said we would bring West Midlands up to the standard of Staffordshire - but instead we see Staffordshire being pulled down."
A spokesman for the merged service said the decision to withdraw the device had been made by Staffordshire alone.
Mr Fabricant said another memo, leaked to him, signed on the authority of the Secretary of State said the chief executive of the new service "must" be invited to Staffordshire board meetings and it must have due regard to his advice.
