PARLIAMENTARY hopeful Will Straw will spend time tomorrow shadowing East Lancashire paramedics.

Mr Straw, who is standing for Labour in Rossendale and Darwen next year, said he wanted to get a better understanding of the pressures facing North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) in the region.

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It comes as Labour Freedom of Information requests revealed an increase in expenditure on private ambulances by NWAS of 61 per cent from 2011/12 to 213/14, up from £2.1million to £3.3million.

Mr Straw said: “I have talked to numerous people who are concerned by how quickly the NHS is changing under David Cameron.

“It is clear from these new figures that more and more money is being wasted on private services. It is clear that no part of the NHS is now immune to privatisation. I will be talking to the hard-working North West Ambulance Service this week to find out their concerns.”