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West Midlands Ambulance Service staff have been drawing up plans and preparations across the whole region, in response to the Severe Weather Warning and prediction of snow from the Met Office.

The service has a number of 4 x 4 vehicles in use across the more rural parts of the region and is ensuring all of these will be available to respond to patients should the predicted snow fall on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Staff in the Emergency Operations Centre have been drawing up plans to ensure all 999 calls received can still be responded to in time and staffing levels are being maximised.

Contingency arrangements are being put into place in case any staff become stranded by weather problems and can't work from their normal station. Advice is being given to all staff coming in on duty over the weekend.

While the service is gearing itself up to ensure it can continue to provide an excellent standard of response and care to patients who need an ambulance over the weekend, we are also urging the public to heed the weather warning.

Daniel Gore, Director of Operational Service Delivery for the Birmingham and Black Country area, said: "While our staff are going the extra mile to ensure the service continues even under extreme weather conditions, we would also urge the public to take extra care to look after themselves.

"The extreme cold can be fatal for the elderly and vulnerable, and snowy and icy conditions on the roads make travelling treacherous. While we want everyone to enjoy their Bank Holiday weekend, we would urge the public to take extra care should this adverse weather strike."

6:11pm Friday 21st March 2008

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