A Shropshire business has announced the Midlands Air Ambulance as its nominated charity of the year in 2016.
Caradoc Medical Services, based in Shrewsbury, is a not-for-profit buying consortium initially set up to negotiate better buying terms for out of hours providers Shropdoc.
The company now works with thousands of GP practices across the country as well as other businesses including dentists, osteopaths, massage therapists and SMEs.
Business manager Peter Masters said in 2016 they wanted to support a charity that worked within the NHS and health industry.
The consortium will be working with suppliers to launch fundraising initiatives and promote the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity to their members.
Mr Masters said: “We are resellers of Varidesks, adjustable height desks which promote a healthier and more productive working environment as users can sit or stand as they wish.
“We will be donating money to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity for every Varidesk sold and will be working with suppliers to implement more schemes along these lines.”
Midlands Air Ambulance is the charity responsible for funding and operating three air ambulances serving the communities of six Midlands counties: Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands.
This constitutes the largest air ambulance operating region in the UK.
Since 1991, the charity has responded to more than 43,000 missions averaging 2,000 per year, making it one of the longest established and busiest air ambulance organisations in the UK.
The charity’s three aircraft each carry a crew comprising pilot, two paramedics or flight doctors plus full life-support medical equipment. Operating from strategically located regional airbases, 90 per cent of the region is within reach within eight minutes.
If a patient reaches hospital within the Golden Hour – 60 minutes after their injury – their chances of survival are dramatically increased. That is why the rapid response of the Midlands Air Ambulance is so vital in an emergency situation.
Maria Jones, fundraising manager at Midlands Air Ambulance said: “We receive no Government or National Lottery funding and as each air ambulance mission costs £2,500 the money donated to us from the public and businesses is essential to keep the air ambulances operational.
“We are extremely grateful to Caradoc Medical Services for choosing us as their charity of the year and we very much look forward to working with them.
“In excess of £7 million is needed each year to keep the three air ambulances operational, which is why the charity regards the real ‘helicopter heroes’ as not only the aircrew, but those often unsung ground heroes, its fundraisers.”
Established in May 2009, Caradoc Medical Services Ltd is the sister company of the not-for-profit, out of hours provider Shropshire Doctors Co-operative (ShropDoc).
As a not-for-profit organisation, surplus is invested into a range of initiatives across health economies – and now the Midlands Air Ambulance. The consortium is free to join, with no membership fees.
Elizabeth Martial and Peter Masters, of Caradoc Medical Services.
