Magpas Air Ambulance Chief Executive Officer, Daryl Brown MBE DL, shares: "The impact of increasing fuel costs is being felt across the air ambulance sector. Last year was Magpas Air Ambulance's busiest year on record and as we continue to rise to the demand for our lifesaving service, the cost of fuel is rising too. In just one month, our aviation fuel costs rose by 82.5%.
As a charity, we are working closely with Air Ambulances UK (the national body representing the country's 21 air ambulance services) which has written to MPs to ensure that the risks facing the sector are clearly understood by Government and that appropriate measures are put in place to safeguard emergency response capability.
Disruption to fuel supply, access and affordability has significant direct and immediate impact on patient safety and outcomes. The sector is therefore urging policymakers to act now to ensure air ambulance charities can continue to deliver lifesaving care without interruption.
As a charity, Magpas Air Ambulance carefully monitors how we use our funds, but fuelling our helicopter and rapid response vehicles is vital to our ability to take the hospital to the patient when every second counts. In the last month alone, we had one of our busiest flying days on record and used 900 litres of aviation fuel in one day. Even small increases in price and demand can have a big impact on how much more we need to raise.
I want to express our deep gratitude to our donors' unwavering support. Through thick and thin it is them who allow us to save lives and keep families together across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and beyond 24/7. If you can, please consider donating to Magpas Air Ambulance today. Thank you."
