Regulator investigates Stoke Air Ambulance charity

An investigation is under way into the Stoke Air Ambulance charity by the Fundraising Regulator.

It follows a complaint about the charity, which has been set up to raise money for a specialist helicopter to treat patients in Staffordshire.

A spokesperson for the regulator confirmed an investigation had begun but was unable to share any details because it was a live case.

Phil Copeland, the chief executive of Stoke Air Ambulance, said he believed the complaint was an attempt to undermine the organisation's reputation and that it had received harassment online.

Stoke Air Ambulance evolved out of another charity, Helicopter Emergency Service Equipment (HESE), increasing its revenue fivefold to £54,457 last year whilst declaring spending of £59,949.

The charity had said it wanted to have a helicopter available by the summer of 2025.

But the well-established Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC) already has a helicopter based at Tatenhill in Staffordshire, with an average response time of 10 minutes for the county.

Chief executive of MAAC, Hanna Sebright, said she was concerned because it costs £9m to £12m to buy a helicopter as well as £3,000 every time it flies.

MAAC's annual running costs are £16m.

"What causes me concern is there's no aircraft, there's no operation yet. I have not seen anything fundamental yet," she said.

"There is an external independent investigation into their practices so I cannot say a great deal more about it."

Ms Sebright said she was worried people might donate to Stoke Air Ambulance thinking it was a different organisation.

The most complex factor for any new air ambulance service would be getting the highly-skilled critical care staff to provide lifesaving treatment, she added.

Dr Simon Constable, the chief executive of University Hospital North Midlands which provides staff for MAAC helicopters, said there were already three helicopters based just a few minutes flying time from Stoke-on-Trent.

"Our region is one of the best served in the country for air ambulances," he said.

"Midlands Air Ambulance charity is the primary air ambulance operator for Staffordshire and many of our clinicians are part of the specialist aircrew, and we actively support this."

He asked people to donate to the "established Midlands Air Ambulance charity, so that they can continue to deliver the exceptional service to our local population".

However, Stoke Air Ambulance boss Mr Copeland insisted to the BBC it does not require millions to begin its service.

He said they were reinvesting every donation received into building a sustainable, monthly income stream supported by thousands of dedicated contributors.

"We will share further details on the chosen helicopter we are buying early next year," he said.

He also claimed there had been attempts to undermine Stoke Air Ambulance's reputation and that they had suffered online harassment.

"Frankly these tactics are disappointing as this should be about saving lives, not control and money," he said.

"We launched Stoke Air Ambulance to save lives by reducing response times.

"With our helicopter based locally, we can have a doctor on the scene in just six minutes - an improvement that could mean the difference between life and death."

A recruitment drive for medical staff will start in spring, Mr Copeland said.

The charity is about to open a hub in the Potteries Shopping Centre, which is close to the MAAC's own base.

Mr Copeland said: "There is a choice to align with MAAC and West Midlands Ambulance Service's (WMAS) attempts to challenge our mission, risking more negative experiences for our fundraisers, or support the thousands who have come together to make this vision a reality," he said.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) told the BBC there was no requirement for any further aircraft in Staffordshire.

"In addition, we have an excellent BASICS emergency doctor scheme in North Staffordshire and also the MERIT scheme which can be deployed to Staffordshire if required," it added.

"Together, they provide some of the best advanced pre-hospital emergency care in the country."

The fundraising regulator said it hoped to report on this case early in the new year, but due to the interests of fairness and due process, it could not make any guarantees on timescales involved.

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