THE ambulance service helping residents in Bromsgrove, Rubery and Droitwich Spa has been making massive improvements on reaching life-threatening calls.

National performance statistics published on Tuesday June 11, revealed Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust is one of just nine services to reach targets for life-threatening responses within eight minutes and non life-threatening calls within 19 minutes.

This was despite a 10.7 per cent increase in 999 calls.

Improvements were achieved by reviewing and re-organising how calls are handled, keeping crews on stand-by for emergencies and by appointing new paramedic responders under a national funding scheme.

The service's acting chief executive, Linda Millinchamp, said: "When someone in Herefordshire or Worcestershire faces a life-threatening situation and calls the ambulance service for help, they can now expect to receive that help far more quickly than ever before.

"Staff are justifiably proud of the service they offer which is clearly among the very best nationally.

"We hope the public are equally proud and recognise the enormous amount of effort and commitment which ambulance staff in the two counties have shown to make this service one of the highest performers in the country," she added.