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# MP seeks assurances amid confusion over future of Whittington First Responders
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/mp-seeks-assurances-amid-confusion-over-future-of-whittington-first-responders/
- Published: 2012-11-13T14:19:59.000Z
- Updated: 2012-11-13T14:19:59.000Z
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 21:41, News

Lichfield’s MP has called for assurances amid confusion over the future of the Whittington Community First Responders.

The group’s leader Frank Bartlett told local councillors that the organisation had decided to close.

However, West Midlands Ambulance Service – which oversees the training of first responders – denied that the group had folded.

In a letter to the Parish Council in Whittington, Mr Bartlett claimed a reduction in skilling for the organisation had led to them ceasing to operate and that they would be returning a donation.

“Our meeting took the view that existing members attending insufficient incidents with too little training could not provide the level of service that our community has come to expect,” he said. “Having given thousands of hours to the community first responder movement over the past seven years and seeing at first hand the many benefits for our local community, I am personally very distressed but believe the actions of the Trust have made the decision inevitable.

“My view is that the matters are symptomatic of greater underlying problems. Firstly, is the emergence of a management style that indicates a failure to appreciate the different mind-set and skills base required to manage voluntary workers as opposed to employees. Consultation and sharing information prior to decision making have been replaced by a ‘this is what region has decided, take it or leave it’ approach.

“Secondly, is the wish by West Midlands Ambulance Service to see a common level of Community First Responding skills across the region that, contrary to assurances made at the time of amalgamation, is at a much lower level than that which was available in Staffordshire.”

However, the closure of Whittington First Responders has been denied by the West Midlands Ambulance Service – which has also rejected suggestions it is reducing the level of training on offer.

“No-one from West Midlands Ambulance Service is closing Whittington Community First Responders down – quite the opposite,” said a spokesperson. “That is why we have recently trained up one new community first responder, with a second well on the way for the group.

“To date, the only community first responder to have resigned is Mr Bartlett himself. We are confident that there are more than sufficient people in the community to run a successful scheme in the area and continue to help to save lives.

“It is also quite wrong to say that we have restricted training. Any community first responder in Staffordshire who wishes to study for the enhanced qualification is able to do so and courses are scheduled for 2013.

“Currently around a third of Staffordshire community first responders have undertaken the training. Due to the location of the Whittington group, the number of times their responders have required to use their extended skills is fairly low, so to say that people will suffer is also quite wrong.

“It is very disappointing to see suggestions that we are lowering the level of skills undertaken by community first responders. That’s completely untrue. West Midlands Ambulance is actively recruiting for new community first responders and we are running back to back training courses to meet that interest.”

The Whittington First Responders were formed in 2006 after being trained by the Staffordshire Ambulance Service, which then became part of the West Midlands region.

Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield, said he would be taking up issues regarding the group’s future.

“This is a local decision which I very much regret,” he added. “A number of very different issues were raised by Frank Bartlett where, perhaps, the West Midlands Ambulance Service could have been far more helpful.

“I saw Frank a couple of months back at one of my surgeries and raised the issue of enhanced training with Tony Marsh, Chief Executive Officer of the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

“I will now be contacting him again as a matter of urgency and will want to know how he intends to address the issues raised by Frank Bartlett.

“When the Staffordshire Ambulance Service was absorbed into the West Midlands Ambulance Service, I was told that response times and paramedic on-the-spot treatment would not be adversely affected.

“We all need an explanation about this.”