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

Dr Anton Van Dellen, who jointly runs Staffordshire Ambulance Service, said hundreds of lives will be put at risk.

The public are to be consulted over the plans next month but it is thought that one regional service will be created.

'Inferior system'

Dr Van Dellan, deputy chief executive of Staffordshire Ambulance Service, told BBC News on Friday that he has to speak out even though he is risking his job.

He said: "I think we are gravely concerned that the plans to merge ambulance services in the region to one trust are going to put hundreds of lives at risk in Staffordshire.

"I think it is almost inevitable that we are going to see a dramatic decline in performance and clinical standards in Staffordshire.

"I am doing it because I took a Hippocratic oath as a doctor and that oath is to save life and I can't sit by and watch a system which was set up to save lives be dismantled and substituted by an inferior system."

Plans backed

West Midlands could be covered by just one service which would incorporate the four existing trusts which currently cover the area.

Staffordshire Ambulance Service has the fastest response times in the region.

Official statistics show that for patients whose hearts completely stop, 231 make it to hospital alive in Staffordshire compared with 48 in the West Midlands, 45 in Hereford and Worcester and 22 in Warwickshire.

Michele Paduano, BBC Midlands Today health correspondent, said a document has been produced that backs plans to create one regional ambulance service.

He added that the Strategic Health Authority said it is in favour of just one service although no decision has been taken.