'It is crucial to keep rural ambulance crews going'

David Duford, who lives and works near Southern Medical Rescue, said he had been saved many times thanks to the service

A couple has voiced concerns about the upcoming loss of a private ambulance service in a rural Oxfordshire area.

South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) has decided not to renew its contract with Southern Medical Rescue, based in Greys Green near Henley on Thames.

Gillian Duford, whose husband David said he had been saved many times thanks to the service, said people in rural areas "need someone closer to them".

SCAS said services would continue to be provided for "all residents across Oxfordshire" but it had to reduce its reliance on private providers.

South Central Ambulance Service has decided not to renew its contract with Southern Medical Rescue after the end of March

Southern Medical Rescue has a fleet of 12 ambulances, using six over a 24-hour period in the Henley area and beyond.

Mr Duford lives near its hub, where he also runs a car restoration business.

He has been living with health issues and has been able to get help quickly, such as immediate treatment when he had a bowel blockage, thanks to the private service.

But he and his wife are worried that after the end of March the help will no longer be available.

"Having them here and seeing their work, it is really crucial that we keep this crew going," Mrs Duford said.

"It's the time factor. We know driving from here into Reading how difficult it can be."

She added that if people "suddenly fall ill" in rural areas "they need someone closer to them to aid them and aid them quickly".

SCAS said it was "confident" it could meet requirements, even with a reduced use of private providers.

"Emergency ambulance services will continue to be provided to care for all residents across Oxfordshire and our wider geography," it said in a statement.

"Alongside improved recruitment, new processes to reduce hospital handover delays have seen significant improvements in performance.

"This again reduces our need to pay for additional capacity from private providers."