The East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) has hit out at claims that its decision to replace volunteers provided by medical volunteer organisation Magpas with private doctors amounts to a “privatisation” of the charity.

In a statement, Magpas had criticised the EAAA’s decision to sign a contract with private firm EMSC, and said that its decision to move the base for one of its helicopters from RAF Wyton to Cambridge would risk lives in the north of the region.

It said that it has been providing doctors free of charge on the air ambulances since 2007, adding: “We do not believe that the people of the East of England, who so generously donate to support their air ambulances, would approve of this proposed use of charity resources.”

However, in a counter-statement, the EAAA said Magpas was invited to take part in the tender process for the service but declined, and that the decision was taken because Magpas was unable to ensure doctors were available to be on board all the EAAA’s flights.

The EAAA statement added: “The East Anglian Air Ambulance has been saving lives in the region since 2000 and has worked collaboratively with Magpas for much of that time.

“We’re disappointed that Magpas has taken the decision to issue a misleading press release regarding our operations which is clearly designed to cause concern among our many loyal supporters and damage the charity’s reputation.”