ATTEMPTS will re-start next week to settle a bitter row between a private ambulance operator and its workforce.

The 20-month dispute flared soon after Parkwood Healthcare Group won a contract to ferry 500 patients a day to hospital appointments in North Staffordshire.

The company's policy of paying its 90-strong workforce different rates for the same job led to a work-to-rule last Christmas, followed by intervention from a Government minister.

A first hearing was scrapped two months ago when the initial arbitrator had to pull out due to a conflict of interest.

Government conciliation agency ACAS has now appointed barrister Professor Roy Lewis to hear the case, which begins in Birmingham on Thursday.

Parkwood won the three-year contract from Staffordshire Ambulance Service, but the four NHS trusts which run it are to re-tender it this summer.

A year ago, Parkwood put its ambulance service up for sale because it was losing money.

Unison union leader Ray Salmon, who represents the drivers, said: "The first stage next week is to decide if the arbitrator has jurisdiction in law over the dispute.

"Even if Parkwood do not re-tender for the service, we need a settlement so we can submit claims for back pay for our members who are on lower pay scales for doing the same job."