Magpas Air Ambulance praises Bedfordshire community

The charity made a plea for Personal Protective Equipment
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Magpas Air Ambulance has thanked the communities it serves after a plea for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) resulted in hundreds of donations.

The Air Ambulance medical teams remain active across the region, primarily serving the communities of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, but the call outs also cover over 12 counties in and around the East of England).

As a charity, the priority is to ensure the safety of our patients, our crew, our staff and volunteers whilst maintaining our emergency medical services for the communities it serves. The plea was made as they had less than a month's worth of PPE left.

Magpas Air Ambulance enhanced doctor and paramedic team dressed, from head to toe, in donated PPE - thanks to community supportMagpas Air Ambulance enhanced doctor and paramedic team dressed, from head to toe, in donated PPE - thanks to community support
Magpas Air Ambulance enhanced doctor and paramedic team dressed, from head to toe, in donated PPE - thanks to community support

Not only have local businesses, from around the region, been incredible at getting in touch with us and offering equipment free of charge, but individuals have also taken it upon themselves to call upon relevant companies in their community and collect/deliver these crucial items to the Operations Base too.

A spokesperson for Magpas Air Ambulance said: "Thanks to the phenomenal community support, Magpas Air Ambulance have been fortunate enough to receive more than 700 masks, suits and respirators within 10 days, as well as filters for reusable masks and 50 bottles of alcohol sanitiser!

"The last 10 days or so have highlighted how amazing the local communities that we serve have been and continue to be; this whole experience epitomises true community unity!

"This support means so much to us and will help keep our patients and advanced doctor and critical care paramedic teams safe, in these challenging times.

Magpas Air Ambulance enhanced doctor and paramedic team dressed, from head to toe, in donated PPE - thanks to community supportMagpas Air Ambulance enhanced doctor and paramedic team dressed, from head to toe, in donated PPE - thanks to community support
Magpas Air Ambulance enhanced doctor and paramedic team dressed, from head to toe, in donated PPE - thanks to community support

"As a charity, our lifesaving organisation is solely reliant on donations to continue to operate 24/7. However, many of our fundraising activities have had to stop and we estimate that our income over the coming months will be £200,000 lower than previously expected; an amount which would normally allow us to respond to over 60 patients."

To make a donation to the Magpas Air Ambulance, visit: magpas.org.uk.