Magpas

{{Short description|English charity air ambulance}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Use British English|date=August 2017}} {{advert|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox organisation | name = Magpas Air Ambulance | image = G-MGPS Leonardo AW169 Helicopter.jpg | image_alt = | caption = | logo = Magpas Primary-1-RGB.jpg | logo_caption = | logo_size = | map =  | formation = {{Start date|df=yes|1971|01|01}} | extinction =  | type = Charitable organisation | status = Registered Charity 1119279 | headquarters = Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire, England | coordinates = {{Coord|52.3320|-0.0631|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}} | language =  | leader_title = Aircraft operated | leader_name = Leonardo AW109SP | leader_title2 = CEO | leader_name2 = Daryl Brown | key_people = | main_organ =  | parent_organization =  | affiliations =  | revenue = £6.3{{nbsp}}million<ref name = ccoverview /> | revenue_year = 2024 | expenses = | expenses_year = | remarks = | image_border = | map_size =  | map_alt =  | map_caption =  | abbreviation = | location = | num_members = | num_staff = 78<ref name = ccoverview /> | num_staff_year = 2024 | num_volunteers = 90<ref name = ccoverview /> | num_volunteers_year = 2024 | awards = Queens Award for Voluntary Service | website = {{Official URL}} | region_served = East of England }} [[File:G-HMDX Explorer MD900 Helicopter Specialist Aviation Services Ltd (28752847004).jpg|alt=G-HMDX|thumb|G-HMDX, MD902 Explorer, seen in 2016 with dual 'magpas' and 'Helimedix' logos, (since retired)]]

'''Magpas Air Ambulance''' is a registered charity that operates a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in the East of England.

Founded in 1971, the charity operates a helicopter and three rapid response vehicles from its base in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. {{As of|2023}}, their staff consists of 80 employees and 70 volunteers. They are dispatched by both the East of England Ambulance Service and the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

==History==

=== 20th century === Magpas Air Ambulance was founded in 1971 by doctors Neville Silverston and Derek Cracknell as the Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service (MAGPAS).<ref>{{cite news |last=Barrett |first=Hywel |date=17 August 2014 |title=OBITUARY: Founder of Huntingdonshire charity Magpas Air Ambulance Dr Derek Cracknell MBE |work=The Hunts Post |url=http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/obituary_founder_of_huntingdonshire_charity_magpas_dr_derek_cracknell_mbe_1_3729282 |url-status=live |accessdate=24 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024221652/http://www.huntspost.co.uk/news/obituary_founder_of_huntingdonshire_charity_magpas_dr_derek_cracknell_mbe_1_3729282 |archive-date=24 October 2016}}</ref> Its name derives from its close historical and geographical association with the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, then known as the Mid-Anglia Constabulary. The service was originally offered by general practitioners from across Cambridgeshire to provide quick medical care to victims of road accidents. The organisation became a registered charity in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Charity Commission Removed Charity Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service |url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/RemovedCharityMain.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=263564&SubsidiaryNumber=0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813205213/https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/ |archive-date=13 August 2023 |access-date=24 October 2016 |website=Charity Commission}}</ref>

In 1977, Magpas Air Ambulance contributed to the founding of the British Association for Immediate Care,{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} of which the charity remains a member. In 1997, the charity entered a partnership with the Cambridgeshire Constabulary to use the police helicopter from RAF Wyton, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. In 1999, the charity became the first service in the region to provide a night-time helicopter emergency medical service.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

=== 21st century === In 2007, the East Anglian Air Ambulance agreed to provide a helicopter, dubbed ''Anglia Two'', to be operate from RAF Wyton for daytime missions.<ref>{{Citation |title=Charity Commission Return 2009 |date=July 2010 |url=http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/ScannedAccounts/Ends79/0001119279_ac_20071231_e_c.pdf |publisher=Magpas Air Ambulance |accessdate=13 October 2010}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Although this was withdrawn in 2010, Magpas Air Ambulance continued to provide the service in conjunction with the police.

Between 2000 and 2010, the charity developed a network of community first responder schemes across Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. These local volunteers were trained by Magpas to respond to medical emergencies in their local area and treat the patient until the ambulance service arrived. In 2010, the Magpas first responders were joined alongside other schemes under the leadership of the East of England Ambulance Trust, though the charity's volunteers were stood down in the same year.<ref>{{cite news |date=27 October 2010 |title=East Anglian Air Ambulance drops Magpas Air Ambulance volunteers |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11636125 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024093809/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11636125 |archive-date=24 October 2018}}</ref>

In 2012, Magpas Air Ambulance began flying with its own helicopter, MD902 Explorer registration G-HMDX.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 April 2012 |title=Magpas medical charity to get own helicopter |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17739318 |url-status=live |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109150110/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17739318 |archive-date=9 November 2018}}</ref> This was replaced in December 2018 by AgustaWestland AW169 G-MGPS.<ref>{{cite web |title=AW169 G-MGPS |url=https://www.helis.com/database/cn/50390/ |website=helis.com |access-date=23 August 2024}}</ref>

Magpas Air Ambulance was registered with the Healthcare Commission,<ref>{{cite web |title=Regulatory Assessment Statement 2008/2009 |url=http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/old_reports/1-109104166_RAS_08-09_MAGPAS_0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911043359/http://www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/old_reports/1-109104166_RAS_08-09_MAGPAS_0.pdf |archive-date=11 September 2016 |accessdate=30 August 2016 |website=www.cqc.org.uk}}</ref> and was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in March 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Providers: Archived: Magpas - East of England |url=http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-109104166 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911040011/http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-109104166 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |accessdate=30 August 2016 |website=www.cqc.org.uk |publisher=Care Quality Commission}}</ref> This looks at the charity's governance and care quality to ensure it meets national standards. In 2015, Magpas Air Ambulance announced that they would extend their hours of operation to 24/7 in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Magpas Trustees Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2015 |url=https://willinghamparishcouncil.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/APM-18-MAGPAS.pdf |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=willinghamparishcouncil.gov.uk}}</ref>

In 2024, Magpas acquired AgustaWestland 109SP G-MPAS. This was because their helicopter operator was sold and their AW169 was removed from service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mottershead |first=Hannah |date=2024-10-07 |title=The new Magpas Air Ambulance helicopter has touched down |url=https://magpas.org.uk/the-new-magpas-air-ambulance-helicopter-has-touched-down/ |access-date=2024-11-09 |website=Magpas Air Ambulance {{!}} Your Support Saves Lives 24/7 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Research== In partnership with the University Hospital of Leicester, Magpas runs the Cambridge Trauma and Audit Research Project (CTARP). This project looks to identify lessons from all cases of traumatic injury occurring in Cambridgeshire. This can then be used to improve the quality of care and examine ways to prevent incidents in the first place.<ref>{{Citation | title = Magpas research programme - CTARP | publisher = Magpas | website = ResearchGate | date = November 2015 | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283517750 | accessdate = 24 August 2024 }}</ref>

== Awards and nominations == In 2005, Magpas was given the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2005 |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2005-06-06b.25.2 |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=TheyWorkForYou |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, clinicians from Magpas and the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) won the 999 Hero category in ''The Sun'' "Who Cares Wins" awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mottershead |first=Hannah |date=2022-11-28 |title=Magpas Air Ambulance and EEAST team win prestigious Who Cares Wins award |url=https://magpas.org.uk/magpas-air-ambulance-and-eeast-team-win-prestigious-who-cares-wins-award/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Magpas Air Ambulance {{!}} Your Support Saves Lives 24/7 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2023, Magpas was given the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for its support of armed forces personnel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mottershead |first=Hannah |date=2023-07-13 |title=Cambridgeshire air ambulance first in the UK to receive Gold Award for Armed Forces support |url=https://magpas.org.uk/cambridgeshire-air-ambulance-first-in-the-uk-to-receive-gold-award-for-armed-forces-support/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |website=Magpas Air Ambulance {{!}} Your Support Saves Lives 24/7 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Facts and figures == In the year ending June 2024, the charity reported an income of £6.3{{nbsp}}million. Expenditure was £5.2M, of which £3.6M (68%) was spent on operating the air ambulance service.<ref name = ccoverview>{{cite web | url = https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/4030275 | publisher = Charity Commission for England and Wales | title = Charity Overview: MAGPAS | access-date = 5 June 2025 }}</ref>

In 2024, the charity employed 78 people, four of whom earned more than £70,000, and had 90 volunteers.<ref name = ccoverview />

== See also == *Air ambulances in the United Kingdom

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{Official website}} *{{EW charity|1119279}}

Category:Air ambulance services in England Category:Health charities in the United Kingdom Category:Charities based in England Category:Charities based in Cambridgeshire Category:Health in Cambridgeshire