Medical emergency charities merge

It costs at least £110,000 per month to keep the ambulance in the air

Merger talks between two medical charities in the East could create an advanced emergency care service.

The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) and the Mid-Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service (Magpas) Magpas, want to join their services together.

The charities have been sharing resources and expertise in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire since 2007.

It is felt a merger would enable them to respond to changing NHS demands for health provision in the region.

Magpas' doctor and paramedic teams have been manning Anglia Two, the East Anglian Air Ambulance for Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, for the past year.

Anglia One, its first aircraft, has continued serving Norfolk and Suffolk.

The merger between Magpas and EAAA was still at an early stage, the charities said, and they will be working closely together to get an understanding of their respective operations.

Simon Gray, from EAAA, said: "Both charities are already highly respected in their field, so it's important that we take time to consider how best to integrate our organisations by consulting those who help and support us."

The chief executive of Magpas, Ian Brooke, said: "The new charity that results from this merger will be fantastic for our region."

The two organisations rely totally on fundraising and private donations.