Isle of Man secures five-year emergency air ambulance services

Emergency air ambulance provision for the Isle of Man has been secured under new five-year contracts following a competitive tender, ending a period of uncertainty over the service’s future.

Manx Care confirmed that helicopter emergency medical services would continue to be delivered by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). Fixed-wing operations have been awarded to IAS Medical, while UK road transfers from airports to hospitals will be handled by Spark Medical.

Will Bellamy, Divisional Director of Ambulance and Transfer Services, Manx Care said the agreement marked “a significant step in protecting access to specialist care for our population”, adding that it provided stability while maintaining a focus on safety, quality, and outcomes. The island’s “emergency air bridge” enables rapid transfer of critically ill or injured patients to specialist centers in the UK.

The deal follows a temporary one-year arrangement introduced in April 2025 after funding challenges led to a shift toward a per-mission model for GNAAS.

GNAAS Chief Executive Joe Garcia said the charity attended about 20 Isle of Man incidents annually. IAS Medical’s Peter Roberts described the service as a “lifeline”, while Spark Medical’s Laura Parry highlighted the importance of “safe and timely onward transfers”.