Ms Scholes said First Responders wish to continue saving lives

More than 100 campaigners, including community first responders, are in Westminster protesting at the plans.

First Responder Janet Scholes said they have the same skills as ambulance technicians but after a merger would not be able to use them on patients.

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

I would like to think I would carry on but the first time I have to sit with someone when they die because I can't use my skills will be the time I might have to reconsider Janet Scholes

Under government proposals, ambulance services in Hereford and Worcester, Staffordshire, Coventry and Warwickshire, West Midlands and Shropshire would form one large trust.

The protesters have also handed in a petition to staff at Whitehall

Ms Scholes told BBC News that first responders "do their job better than anyone else" and they wish to continue saving lives.

She said: "For example, if someone was suffering a severe asthma attack or an allergic reaction we would be able to offer them very little other than sit with them and hold their hand.

Frontline technology

"It takes up to an hour to get an ambulance out to us that could be the difference between life and death.

"I would like to think I would carry on but the first time I have to sit with someone when they die because I can't use my skills will be the time I might have to reconsider."

Last month Roger Thayne, one of the longest serving ambulance chiefs in the country, left his post at the service in opposition to the plans.

Statistics show the Staffordshire service gets to 88% of emergency calls in eight minutes and after heavy investment in frontline technology the service is the only one in the country to have a state-of-the-art heart machine in every vehicle.