 Northumbria Ambulance Service and County Durham Ambulance Service had previously merged on 1 April 1999.It is one of 10 Ambulance Trusts providing England with Emergency medical services, and is part of the National Health Service, receiving direct government funding for its role.There is no charge to patients for use of the service, and under the Patient's Charter, every person in the United Kingdom, has the right to the attendance of an ambulance in an emergency.