HEALTH bosses have put the final touches to a money-spinning bid to supply an ambulance and paramedic service at next year's Commonwealth Games in Malaysia.

Lancashire Ambulance Service is at the centre of a multi-million pound proposal to supply a first-aid service at the event.

If the bid is successful, it could mean Malaysian officials hiring out East Lancashire paramedics during the sporting spectacular.

And it could also lead to ambulance bosses being asked to provide a brand new ambulance service for the fast-developing country.

Lancashire Ambulance is part of a British consortium which has submitted the bid to supply ambulance provision at the 1998 games in the former British colony.

The consortium, which also includes London, Essex, the Scottish Ambulance Service and private contractors, submitted its final presentation of the bid last week. Earlier this year Graham Curry, the trust's IT and communications manager, spent eight days in Malaysia where he and consortium colleagues set up an exhibition for high-ranking officials.

He said other bids were being submitted from around the world and it would be at least two months before a decision was made.

The role of Lancashire Ambulance during the games would include training, consultancy, communications and the supply of a "few" paramedics who would be rented to Malaysia.

The knock-on effect could mean the consortium being asked to provide an entire new service for the country.

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