LIFE-saving medical service Wyre Forest Flying Doctors is to fold after 20 years on the road.

District doctor Barrie Davies is stopping the vital service which has rushed out to more than 3,000 accidents since 1981. Dr Barrie Davies calling a halt to Wyre Forest Flying Doctors.

Demand for the doctors' cars, with their distinctive flashing green lights, has dropped to an all-time low with only five call-outs in the first five months of this year.

Dr Davies acknowledged advances in paramedic training and activity had accounted for the fall in demand.

But he felt the service, which he insists provides a vital presence at many accidents, had been shunted out by the ambulance service.

He said: "It is difficult to assess our value but there will surely be a significant number of people still alive who would not be so without its intervention.

"It is unclear why ambulance control has not called for assistance from the squad because we feel there have been numerous occasions over the past five months when injuries have been serious enough to justify calling for medical back-up.

"One can only assume the control room officers no longer feel we have a useful role to play. However, we strongly feel they are wrong to assume paramedics are capable of dealing with all situations."

He said other factors in his decision were lack of calls and practise would lead to de-skilling of doctors.

Also doctors who worked for the service had moved or retired and current GPs were overburdened by workload.

From a peak of eight there are now three flying doctors, Dr Davies, Dick Herbert and David Malcolmson.

Dr Davies, whose team have benefited from than £100,000 in public donations, said: "The work has been very rewarding and we certainly hope the people of Wyre Forest have appreciated our efforts and, we hope, value for money for their very, very generous donations.

"The three remaining doctors will keep the equipment they carry and make sure it is always serviced and ready for use at all times."

Meanwhile, Dr Herbert said he was negotiating to work with the Bromsgrove Flying Doctor and hoped to cover Wyre Forest.

Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Trust said it was saddened at the Wyre Forest group's decision.

Acting chief executive Linda Millinchamp confirmed the need for the service had fallen with the increased standards of paramedics and this trend would continue.

However, it was committed to working with the British Association for Immediate Care, of which Wyre Forest Flying Doctors is a member.

She revealed a meeting with BASICS doctors across the counties earlier this month was not attended by the Wyre Forest group.

Among actions agreed was fast-track pager service for doctors willing to help the ambulance service.

She said: "This would give doctors the ability to receive emergency calls and then make judgements on whether they should attend incidents and support paramedics."

She added: "We wish the doctors well in the future and would welcome further dialogue with any Wyre Forest GPs who would wish to assist the service in the future in the important area of pre-hospital care."