East of England Leads the UK in 24/7 Air Ambulance Care

East Anglia has been revealed as the region with the highest availability of 24/7 air ambulance care in the UK, according to a new audit of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) across Britain.

The study, published in the Emergency Medical Journal, found that services providing consistent, physician-led pre-hospital care have increased from just one in 2009 to 11 in 2024 — with the East of England emerging as a standout region. Researchers highlighted the role of services such as East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) and MAGPAS in delivering rapid, life-saving care to the most seriously ill and injured patients.

In 2025, EAAA treated 1,845 patients, with 1,573 helicopter missions and 1,165 critical care car deployments, while MAGPAS recorded its busiest year on record, being activated 1,948 times, 37% of those overnight. Just last week, MAGPAS teams were deployed 42 times, demonstrating the constant demand for emergency medical support in the region.

The audit also noted variation in procedures offered across UK services, with most able to provide blood transfusions, but advanced interventions such as resuscitative balloon occlusion of the aorta remaining rare. Despite these differences, the East of England’s 24/7 physician-led coverage ensures patients here receive some of the quickest and most advanced pre-hospital care in the country.

Separate research in the journal reinforced the life-saving impact of air ambulance services, showing that trauma patients supported by HEMS in the South East were five times more likely to survive serious injury — equating to an extra 115 lives saved annually. For East Anglia, the combination of EAAA and MAGPAS means the region is well positioned to deliver similar life-saving outcomes.

Councillors and healthcare leaders in the region have praised the ongoing work of these charities, highlighting their crucial role in supporting hospitals and NHS ambulance services and ensuring that critical care reaches those who need it most, day or night.