New vehicles join air ambulance fleet

The fleet of rapid response vehicles used by Magpas Air Ambulance is growing to respond to the rising demand for its lifesaving care via helicopter, and by road.

The charity has evolved from volunteer GPs across Cambridgeshire, responding to devasting road traffic collisions by car in the 1970s, to ensuring the right medical care and equipment is delivered to patients as quickly as possible, however that may be.

Due to the wide geography Magpas Air Ambulance is called to, the helicopter is often the quickest way for its specialist medical team to reach critically ill and injured patients. 

However, factors such as weather and road conditions, light and proximity to incident scenes, can mean it's sometimes more effective to travel to patients by road.

Currently, Magpas Air Ambulance responds to emergencies between 7pm-7am via rapid response vehicle because the time advantage is often no greater by air at night.

All the cars carry exactly the same kit bags as the air ambulance, meaning the charity's medical team has access to the same hospital-level equipment and drugs they do on board the helicopter.

For these cases, Magpas Air Ambulance is ensuring the service has the best possible rapid response vehicles for the job.

The Cambridgeshire-based charity has taken delivery of the first of three new rapid response vehicles, expanding its total feet to four. 

These cars are emergency services specification versions of the hybrid Volvo XC90, with benefits over a standard road car such as an advanced braking system and larger fuel tank. 

Additionally, they’re all fitted with the latest emergency light and safety systems, including hands-free communication devices and a sat nav system that is activated by the NHS critical care desks.

Magpas Air Ambulance clinical operations manager and critical care paramedic, Andy Smith, said “The visibility of our response vehicles is of paramount importance to the safety of our clinical teams and public, especially when responding in the hours of darkness. 

“We have specially designed our livery to be highly reflective and increased the emergency lighting installed on all the vehicles, as well as further enhancing the emergency siren to warn other road users of our presence. 

“We hope people across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and further afield will be able to spot these new Magpas Air Ambulance cars on the road, just as they do our helicopter in the sky.”

The new fleet of cars, made possible with funding from the Help appeal and support from Cambridgeshire-based company Triple9, will be fully operational by spring 2025.

They will also sport the same orange, white and green livery as the new Magpas Air Ambulance helicopter, which touched down last autumn.