1970
Dr. Cracknell MBE and Dr. Silverston MBE propose an accident service manned by volunteer GPs, as they saw people dying in road traffic collisions who could be saved.
The Beginning1970
1971
The Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service (MAGPAS, now known as Magpas Air Ambulance) is registered as a charity and fundraising begins.
Registered Charity1971
1972
£25,000 raised in order to fully supply the doctors with equipment. This allowed them to respond to emergency calls from their GP surgeries and the control room was run by retired nurse, Jean Drake, from the corner of her living room.
Fundraising Milestone1972
1977
Became a founding member of BASICS.
BASICS1977
1989
The Diploma in Immediate Medical Care was established with the help of a Magpas doctor. To date, all Magpas doctors and critical care paramedics must pass this Diploma.
Diplomas Introduced1989
1977
The charity enters a new partnership with Cambridgeshire Constabulary to use the police helicopter to respond to emergencies.
Helicopter Assistance1977
1999
Magpas Air Ambulance became the first service in the region to provide a night-time helicopter emergency medical service, running until 2am.
Night Time Service1999
2000
The charity develops a network of Community First Responder Schemes across Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, establishing 42 groups with over 400 volunteers. The community first responder scheme, now part of the ambulance service, is still active today.
First Responder schemes2000
2003
The team becomes a doctor and critical care paramedic team, the same model Magpas Air Ambulance use today.
Care Paramedic Team2003
Unit Move
Magpas Air Ambulance medical team move into a room within the Police Air Operations Unit at RAF Wyton to enable quicker deployment. This will become the Magpas operations base until 2023, when the charity’s new base is built.
2005Unit Move
2008
Magpas Air Ambulance is the first air ambulance in the UK to be registered under the Care Quality Commission.
Care Quality Commission2008
2012
Magpas Air Ambulance successfully fundraise to begin flying with our own helicopter, the G-HMDX, a MD902. This is still used as a relief helicopter today. Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine becomes a recognised sub-specialty of emergency medicine by the General Medical Council, thanks to the work of Magpas Air Ambulance clinicians. The first ever trainee to specialise in this area, Dr Nick Foster, begins training with Magpas Air Ambulance.
We got our own helicopter!2012
2014
The charity became the first accredited pre-hospital emergency medicine training scheme nationally and remains the biggest training provider in the UK.
Accredited pre-hospital emergency medicine2014
2015
Magpas Air Ambulance became the first air ambulance charity in the East of England to provide pre-hospital emergency medical care 24/7.
Pre-hospital emergency medical care2015
2019
The helicopter is upgraded to the state of the art AW169, the G-MGPS, allowing the charity to fly further, faster, and provide an even greater service.
Helicopter Upgrade2019
2020
The charity continued providing around the clock emergency medical care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and was one of only three air ambulances nationally to help the NHS transfer critically ill COVID-19 patients by air.
24 hour Care2020
2020
Magpas Air Ambulance launches a new Bedfordshire specific service by road. Based in Luton and responding by rapid response vehicle, the doctor and paramedic team provide emergency medical care to an area identified as having an increased need for level 3 provision at certain times of the day and night.
Bedfordshire Road Service2020
2021
Magpas Air Ambulance’s 50th anniversary - The ‘Future 50’ appeal to fund a new air base is launched with HRH The Princess Royal to secure the next 50 years of saving lives.
50th Anniversary2021
2022
Magpas Air Ambulance have treated over 70,000 patients over the last 50 years and look to the next 50 years of saving lives with 3 rapid response vehicles, a state- of-the-art helicopter and a 50 strong clinical team.
Treated over 70,000!