LOCAL MP AIMS TO SAVE LIVES

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Jul 2008

City and county MP, Sandra Gidley has thrown her weight behind a campaign by her Liberal Democrat colleague, Adrian Sanders, to launch a Parliamentary campaign to introduce a 999 text service.

Speaking today from Westminster, Sandra, who is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minster for Public Health, said:

"Many people are unable to talk when they need to call an emergency service. People with respiratory conditions, hearing impairments or other speech debilitating conditions may not be able to use the phone, but could text for help.

"There are also people in dangerous or threatening situations where they cannot speak out but could text for assistance.

"Lives could be saved if such a facility could be arranged which is why I am backing a Commons Early Day Motion calling on the Government to encourage the mobile phone industry to come up with a text message 999 service".

ENDS