Somerset MP Rachel Gilmour has renewed her call for the Government to take urgent action after volunteer search and rescue organisations warned that new regulations could mean they have to stop providing their life-saving service.

She first raised her concerns with Ministers in April, highlighting the potential impact of the new regulations on volunteer rescue teams across the South West, including Exmoor Search and Rescue Team.

She wrote to the Health Minister, warning that proposed changes to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 could have serious unintended consequences for volunteer-led rescue organisations.

At the time, she said she highlighted concerns that requiring volunteer rescue organisations to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) could place significant financial and administrative burdens on services that rely entirely on volunteers, fundraising and charitable donations.

Recent reports have highlighted continuing concerns from search and rescue organisations that the new regulations could affect their ability to provide event cover and other services that help support their operations and fundraising activities.

Expressing her disappointment that the Government has not yet introduced specific protections for volunteer rescue organisations, Ms Gilmour is once again urging Ministers to act before the regulations come into force.

In a statement she said: "I am extremely disappointed that, despite concerns being raised several months ago, the Government has not yet acted to protect volunteer search and rescue organisations from the unintended consequences of these changes.

"Teams such as Exmoor Search and Rescue provide an incredible service across Tiverton and Minehead. Their volunteers give up countless hours of their time to help people who are lost, injured or vulnerable, often in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.

"We should be doing everything we can to support these volunteers, not creating additional costs and bureaucracy that could undermine their ability to operate.”