Air ambulance services secured in five-year deal

The Isle of Man's emergency air ambulance services have been secured for the next five years following a tender process.

The announcement follows a period of uncertainty, with the future of the island's helicopter emergency medical service in doubt last year.

Manx Care confirmed helicopter emergency medical services would continue to be provided by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), while fixed-wing air ambulance services had been awarded to IAS Medical, and road ambulance transfers from airports to hospitals in the UK would be handled by Spark UK Medical.

Will Bellamy, of Manx Care, said it marked "a significant step in protecting access to specialist care for our population".

He said the contracts would provide long-term stability while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality and patient outcomes.

The "emergency air bridge" to the UK allowed seriously ill or injured patients to be transferred quickly to specialist centres there, including major trauma and cardiac hospitals, he added.

In March 2025, Manx Care said it could not continue funding a monthly retainer for the helicopter service run by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

At the time, the parties agreed a temporary one-year contract from 1 April that year, with funding moving to a per-mission basis and GNAAS increasing its fundraising efforts.

The helicopter service, which has operated alongside fixed-wing aircraft and coastguard support since 2022, had been described as a "vital partnership".

Manx Care said all the latest contracts had been agreed for five years, with an option to extend for a further two.

GNAAS chief executive Joe Garcia said the organisation responded to around 20 incidents a year involving the Isle of Man.

IAS Medical's Peter Roberts described the service as a "lifeline for patients who need rapid access to specialist care" and said he was "proud to help ensure transfers are delivered safely, reliably and to the highest clinical standards".

He said the long-term agreement would support future plans, including potentially expanding to a day-and-night service if sufficient funding could be secured.

Laura Parry, head of ambulance operations at Spark UK Medical, said: "We are proud to support the Isle of Man's emergency air bridge by providing UK road ambulance services that ensure safe and timely onward transfers for patients requiring specialist care."

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