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Population affects air ambulance demand, says boss

Shariqua AhmedPeterborough
News imageMagpas Air Ambulance The Magpas helicopter taking off in flight. It is an orange and white aircraft with the logo emblazoned on the side and rotors whirring. An operative in a white helmet can be seen within the helicopter.Magpas Air Ambulance
Magpas Air Ambulance relies entirely on public donations and attends emergency incidents across a wide area

An air ambulance charity has attributed its "busiest May on record" to a rise in population after it responded to nearly 200 incidents across the East of England.

Last month Magpas Air Ambulance provided care to patients across nine counties and the first May bank holiday weekend was among one of its busiest periods, with crews attending 11 callouts in 24 hours on 2 May.

Cambridgeshire accounted for 53% of total incidents, with crews responding to 56 callouts from in and around Peterborough.

"Cambridgeshire is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country... demand for emergency medical services will increase," said Daryl Brown, the charity's chief executive.

"Looking ahead, with thousands of new homes planned and under development across Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, we expect demand for our service to continue growing rapidly over the coming years."

Magpas, which is based in Alconbury Weald, near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, operates one helicopter and four rapid response vehicles.

Its medical teams can also carry out procedures usually only available in hospital, including general anaesthesia, sedation and emergency surgical interventions.

News imageMagpas Air Ambulance Team of Magpas air ambulance crew- three men and a woman- with two of them wearing orange uniform and the other two wearing black uniform, standing in a semi-circle in front of orange emergency vehicles and a helicopter. Magpas Air Ambulance
Magpas said it responded to incidents across 12 counties last year

Brown said: "While Cambridgeshire is often viewed as an affluent county, it also has significant inequalities in health and wealth outcomes.

"Research has highlighted stark differences in life expectancy and deprivation across parts of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

"There is well-established evidence that people living in more deprived communities are at greater risk of experiencing serious illness and major trauma, which Magpas is called to attend."

The charity, which relies on public donations, has previously said it has been operating in a challenging financial environment.

Brown also referenced the huge increase seen this year in aviation fuel costs, adding extra pressure to the service.

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