There will be no cuts in vehicles or frontline staff under the plans

The number of ambulance trusts in England could be cut by two-thirds under government proposals.

Kent's Ambulance Trust has confirmed it is looking at a possible merger with services in the neighbouring counties.

Chief executive Hayden Newton said it would be good for the staff "and the patients we care for".

He said services on the ground would be unaffected and would "improve and continue to develop".

Kent Ambulance Service is a three-star trust, and we have no intention of losing momentum and excellent care for patients Hayden Newton, chief executive, Kent Ambulance NHS Trust

The service, which became a single trust about 10 years ago, could be absorbed into one of two large trusts covering the South East.

It is part of a national drive by the DoH to cut bureaucracy and save money.

According to the Health Service Journal, there are plans to cut the number of trusts from 31 to 11 by next April.

The DoH said there would be no reduction in vehicles or frontline staff.

Local identity

Mr Newton said Kent's Ambulance Trust already did a lot of work across the three counties and it was very keen to maintain its local identity.

"Kent Ambulance Service is a three-star trust, and we have no intention of losing that momentum and that excellent care for patients," he said.

But Roger Gale, Conservative MP for North Thanet, said the merger was a "very bad idea indeed".

He said: "The government couldn't have a South East region referendum because it lost the one in the North East so it is now trying to regionalise us through the back door.

"We have a very good local service and this is an endeavour to mend something else that isn't broken."

Mary Laxton, regional officer with the union Unison, said such a merger would inevitably affect jobs as there would only be the need for one call centre and one chief executive.