West Midlands Ambulance Service jobs at risk due to 'extreme financial pressures'

Chief executive Anthony Marsh said the service would be looking at all options and doing everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies but could not rule them out.

"Due to extreme financial pressures facing West Midlands Ambulance Service, planning is taking place to ensure that patients continue to receive the high standards of service we are known for," he said.

"The trust will operate within the financial restrictions placed upon it and will do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies but they cannot be ruled out at this stage.

The trust, which has to make cost improvements every year to improve efficiency, had to find £8.8million in savings during the last financial year and must find a further £11.7m of cuts in 2016-17.

Mr Marsh said consultations were underway with trade union representatives to explore all available options but added no frontline staff would be affected.

Unison, one of the UK's largest trade unions with 1.3m members, said it was 'shocked' to hear that redundancies may be possible.

Chanel Camelleri-Willis, Unison's West Midlands regional organiser, said: "Unison was shocked to learn of the proposed need to make compulsory redundancies at West Midlands Ambulance Service.

"The trust prides itself on being one of the best performing ambulance trusts in the country, so the news that the trust needs to take such drastic cost saving steps was unexpected.

"Particularly in light of the fact that other ambulance trusts around the country are not in such a stable position as the West Midlands, and yet they are not resorting to take such action.

"We are currently in consultation with the employer and are working very closely with them to try and negate the need for any job losses.

"We have been informed that no 'frontline' staff are at risk.

"However, we have made clear to the employer that every member of staff at the trust is contributing towards the excellent patient care that they are proud to deliver.

"Any job losses, from whatever function, will impact on patients that are dependent on the excellent services provided by West Midlands Ambulance Trust."