THE Mersey Regional Ambulance Service (MRAS) has taken significant steps to bolster its capacity to save lives, writes James Hanley.

A team of non-emergency staff members from Runcorn and Widnes underwent training in how to administer life support.

The scheme means the staff (pictured) involved are now equipped to provide life saving support in the event of an emergency during the course of transporting patients to and from treatment centres.

Joe Barrett, MRAS locality manager for North Cheshire, said: "This is excellent news for both patients and the ambulance service in terms of boosting the trust's capacity to administer emergency treatment to patients."

Staff were guided by ambulance professionals in their training, which included comprehensive training in CPR and the use of an Automatic Defibrillator used to treat heart patients.