WORKERS have been left "in tears" after West Midlands Ambulance Service lost its contract for its non-emergency patient transport service.

County employees for the service will be among workers uncertain about their future as the private company set to take over the running, has not confirmed if it will will keep the patient transport service station based in Worcester.

UNISON regional organiser Chanel Willis said: "Staff at West Midlands Ambulance Service have been doing a great job, which is reflected in the service’s ‘outstanding’ rating.

"We are all deeply shocked at the decision to award the contract to a private company.

“Many questions have yet to be answered – primarily where staff will be based.

"Staff are devastated that the decision may affect patient care and their livelihoods."

Non-emergency service operations delivery director for WMAS, Michelle Brotherton, said: “Commissioners set out how much they felt the contract should be worth.

"However, given our extensive experience of running services like this we didn’t feel that it was possible to run the contract for that amount as it would have affected the quality of care for patients and ultimately their safety.

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“We acknowledge that our bid fell outside the financial envelope set by the Commissioners, but we are simply not prepared to put patient care at risk.

The new contract is due to begin on 1st April 2020.

The Trust will continue to provide the current Worcestershire contract until that time.