A LIFE saving emergency doctors' scheme has been launched in Bromsgrove.

Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) is a service consisting of seven highly trained volunteer doctors who are called out by Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust to incidents, particularly road traffic collisions involving traumatic injuries.

The immediate care doctors aim to arrive at the scene to assist paramedics and fire crews with advanced drugs and medical intervention.

The MARS launch, an expansion to the former local service - informally known for more than 20 years as the Flying Doctors - was held at Bromsgrove fire station last Tuesday, with demonstrations involving fire and ambulance crews, and one of the specialist immediate care doctors Dr Jonathan Leech.

Bromsgrove GP Dr John Hall, who has been involved with the service since its inception, believes the expansion was needed to breathe new life into the scheme.

"A group of doctors has been working in Worcestershire for over 20 years, but their numbers have dwindled to only two for the last few years.

"Enlarging and renaming the current scheme as the MARS scheme will allow us to become more organised, enable us to raise funds across both counties, and improve the care provided for victims of road accidents. Our average age is getting older, and another reason for expanding is so we can stop the service from dying out," he said.

Medical advisor and director of clinical effectiveness Christina Campbell said: "This is really exciting. They are a wonderful group of volunteers and they assist the ambulance trust tremendously."

For more information visit www.marsbasics.org.uk