Magpas
 | This article contains promotional content. (August 2016) |
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| Formation | 1 January 1971 |
|---|---|
| Type | Charitable organisation |
| Legal status | Registered Charity 1119279 |
| Headquarters | Alconbury Weald, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°19′55″N 0°03′47″W / 52.3320°N 0.0631°W |
Area served | East of England |
Aircraft operated | Leonardo AW109SP |
CEO | Daryl Brown |
Revenue (2023) | £7.2 million[1] |
| Staff | 80[1] (in 2023) |
Volunteers (2023) | 70[1] |
| Award(s) | Queens Award for Voluntary Service |
| Website | magpas |
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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[update], 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
[edit]20th century
[edit]Magpas Air Ambulance was founded in 1971 by doctors Neville Silverston and Derek Cracknell as the Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service (MAGPAS).[2] 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.[3]
In 1977, Magpas Air Ambulance contributed to the founding of the British Association for Immediate Care,[citation needed] 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]
21st century
[edit]In 2007, the East Anglian Air Ambulance agreed to provide a helicopter, dubbed Anglia Two, to be operate from RAF Wyton for daytime missions.[4] Although this was withdrawn in 2010, Magpas Air Ambulance continued to provide the service in conjunction with the police.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.[5]
In 2012, Magpas Air Ambulance began flying with its own helicopter, MD902 Explorer registration G-HMDX.[6] This was replaced in December 2018 by AgustaWestland AW169 G-MGPS.[7]
Magpas Air Ambulance was registered with the Healthcare Commission,[8] and was inspected by the Care Quality Commission in March 2014.[9] 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.[10]
In 2024, Magpas acquired AgustaWestland 109SP G-MPAS. This was because their helicopter operator was sold and their AW169 was removed from service.[11]
Research
[edit]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.[12]
Awards and nominations
[edit]In 2005, Magpas was given the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.[13] 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.[14] In 2023, Magpas was given the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for its support of armed forces personnel.[15]
Facts and figures
[edit]In the year ending June 2023, the charity reported an income of £7.2 million, which included £750,000 of government grants. Expenditure was £6.1M, of which £4.6M was spent on operating the air ambulance service.[1]
In 2023, the charity employed 80 people and had 70 volunteers.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Charity Overview: MAGPAS". Charity Commission for England and Wales. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Barrett, Hywel (17 August 2014). "OBITUARY: Founder of Huntingdonshire charity Magpas Air Ambulance Dr Derek Cracknell MBE". The Hunts Post. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ "Charity Commission Removed Charity Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service". Charity Commission. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ^ Charity Commission Return 2009 (PDF), Magpas Air Ambulance, July 2010, retrieved 13 October 2010[permanent dead link]
- ^ "East Anglian Air Ambulance drops Magpas Air Ambulance volunteers". BBC News. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "Magpas medical charity to get own helicopter". BBC News. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
- ^ "AW169 G-MGPS". helis.com. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ "Regulatory Assessment Statement 2008/2009" (PDF). www.cqc.org.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ "Providers: Archived: Magpas - East of England". www.cqc.org.uk. Care Quality Commission. Archived from the original on 11 September 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
- ^ "Magpas Trustees Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2015" (PDF). willinghamparishcouncil.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ Mottershead, Hannah (7 October 2024). "The new Magpas Air Ambulance helicopter has touched down". Magpas Air Ambulance | Your Support Saves Lives 24/7. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ "Magpas research programme - CTARP", ResearchGate, Magpas, November 2015, retrieved 24 August 2024
- ^ "Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2005". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
- ^ Mottershead, Hannah (28 November 2022). "Magpas Air Ambulance and EEAST team win prestigious Who Cares Wins award". Magpas Air Ambulance | Your Support Saves Lives 24/7. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
- ^ Mottershead, Hannah (13 July 2023). "Cambridgeshire air ambulance first in the UK to receive Gold Award for Armed Forces support". Magpas Air Ambulance | Your Support Saves Lives 24/7. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
External links
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