Experts say an extra 200 ambulance staff are needed

Union officials representing members of the East Midlands Ambulance Service are warning a shortage of front-line staff could endanger patients' lives.

They said 200 more are needed to man an extra 20 ambulances round the clock.

But the service is getting just 16 extra staff this year - which means one more ambulance.

Unison's regional health spokeswoman Barbara McKenna said: "It is well known that in the ambulance service there is a high burn-out rate and a high turnover of staff.

"Everybody's doing their best, but we've got members working out there doing 10 and 12 hour shifts without meal breaks.

"What we need are more ambulances, more crews, and more support staff - and then we meet the response times required."