The Service was created on July 1 2006 after the union of Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Coventry & Warwick Ambulance NHS Trust, and WMAS and Shropshire Sevices. And lately in 2008, the Service and Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust joined together.
WMAS, therefore, provides medical assistance to Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire. In fact, it is acknowledged as the second largest ambulance service provider in UK.
It is funded by the general tax so any UK residents can freely enjoy the services offered by the Service.
It is also the highest performing ambulance services in England. It has more than 3,500 employees assigned in more than 63 stations.
Also, the Service has 5 Emergency Operation Centers installed at Millennium Point, Brierley Hill; Tollgate Drive, Stafford; Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury; and at Bransford, Worcester, Dale St. Leamington Spa. Nut last November 28, 2007, the Service decided to go ahead for the reconfiguration of EOCs.
Moreover, the Service has an air ambulance called the Midlands Air Ambulance which has 3 daylight air helicopters that covers 21,00 km. square of Midlands Regions. These are based in RAF Cosford, Tattenhill Airport and Strensham Services.
The Service has 400 vehicles which includes patient transport services vehicles, rapid response vehicles, motorcycle response units, and ambulance crews. The Service is also working with St. John Ambulance especially if they request assistance. SJA also provides A&E support staff sometimes in times of staff absences or high call volume. SJA crew are allowed to treat and transport CERTAIN CATERGORIES of patient, although they are expected to ask for more assistance relating to more serious patients.
WMAS can also ask the Severn Area Rescue Association in times of severe weather. The Rescue Team has 4×4 ambulances which makes it highly capable of such rescue operations.
The Service may also ask the assistance of West Midlands CARE Team to give a front-line staff on Friday and Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons and some bank holidays. The Team is constituted by BASICS doctors and nurses, conveyed in a specially equipped fast response car by a paramedic officer so he/she may be able to give medical aid in accidents.
