Air ambulance charity plans move to new base

Emergency medical charity Magpas has unveiled plans that could see it move its RAF Wyton base and Huntingdon headquarters to a £5million purpose-built centre.

The potential move was revealed by chief executive Daryl Brown to The Hunts Post after the organisation was awarded £1million last month from the Government’s Libor fund – using money from penalties imposed on financial institutions after a culture of rate-rigging was exposed by whistleblowers.

“We have decided on a location at Alconbury Weald as we looked at patient data and, as we cover 12 counties, the site has really good road links,” said Mr Brown.

More than 50 per cent of the incidents that Magpas attend are by rapid response vehicle and, with easy access to the A14 and A1, Mr Brown said he was “really happy with the site”.

“We still have more money to raise before we can sign the contract and progress but we are working very hard to secure the funds,” he added.

The charity has a lease at RAF Wyton until June 2018, where its helemedix operations base and medical staff facilities are located, and the lease at its St

Mary’s Street offices ends in 2020.

“It makes total sense to put all our bases under one roof. This could be a phased build as we would need to discuss with the landlords of our headquarters,” Mr Brown said.

As well as the two staff facilities, Mr Brown hopes there will also be the space for a user centre to invite schools, community organisations and businesses to the base to explore the work of Magpas and engage in medical emergency prevention sessions.