96% of people who used Guernsey’s emergency ambulance service in the past year rated their overall experience as good, very good or excellent, 97% of people were highly complementary of the level of respect and dignity they experienced and 98% rated the professionalism of ambulance crews as high or very high.

The findings were among a collection of positive results from the latest Patient Survey showing a significant level of public satisfaction with St John Ambulance & Rescue Service. The survey carried out by Island Global Research also highlighted the way ambulance crews involved patients in the decisions around their care and the satisfaction about the treatment and advice received.

The Non-Emergency Patient Transfer Service which transports patients to and from medical appointments also scored highly in the research with 93% of users rating their overall experience as good, very good or excellent and a similar number (92%) reporting the standard of care was high or very high.

The public was also asked about the annual ambulance subscription scheme, with 96% of members recommending the scheme to others and 86% of people agreeing or strongly agreeing that the subscription was good value for money.

For the first time, views were also sought about the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC) which answers all 999 calls. 90% of respondents said their experience of JESCC was good to excellent, with 91% happy with the speed of answering and 92% praising the professionalism of the call taker.

 

Head of Operations, Dean de la Mare said: “The results of the survey reflect a high-level of care and compassion shown by our ambulance crews, both in the emergency and non-emergency services. Public support for the ambulance service and appreciation for our clinical staff remains very high. Patients were given the opportunity to add their own comments, with exceptional compassion, kindness and respect being mentioned by most respondents. The Ambulance and Rescue team was described as highly professional and competent.  There were also many positive comments from patients who felt strongly that crews adapted support for vulnerable patients, especially those in distress, severe pain or with mobility issues. I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our ambulance crews for the exceptional service they deliver to our community every day.”

Mr De La Mare added: “The results are very similar to those of the last survey four years ago. Overall approval for the non-emergency patient transfer service has gone up while support for the emergency ambulance service remaining very high. There will always be areas of improvement and the results and the comments will help us develop the service and look at any areas that need addressing.”

“With regard to the subscription scheme, awareness of the scheme has improved and the vast majority of members and non-members felt it was value for money. 9 out of 10 people said it met their needs. The survey also showed the online payment option is easy to use. For some people the subscription scheme was felt to be too expensive, however the cost of a subscription is much lower than a single ambulance call-out and we do offer a monthly payment option and people can join at any time of the year.”

 

Other key results showed 22% of respondents said they were experiencing a life-threatening emergency when they called the ambulance, while 75% said their call was an emergency but not life threatening. Most people who were experiencing a non life-threatening situation did not consider phoning their GP first. 90% of patients who were treated at home and discharged on scene said they were satisfied with the decision.

The survey was carried out between February and April this year with almost 1500 responses.

Volunteers from the Flying Christine crew are setting out to pull their floating car along Guernsey’s east coast to raise funds for the marine ambulance before they embark on their challenge to sail the marinised vehicle across the Little Russel to Herm and then onto Sark.

The car pull is due to take place on Sunday 9th August, starting on Bulwer Avenue and finishing at the old lifeboat slipway by Boatworks on Castle Emplacement. The team will be met in town by Guernsey’s Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Sir Richard Cripwell, who will officially launch the car ahead of the crossing which is due to take place later this month.

The bright yellow car has been converted by marine ambulance volunteers over the past few months with the support of local businesses. It is hoped the car pull will not only raise awareness of the challenge and attract more sponsorship for the event. Monies raised will help keep the Flying Christine maintained and operational so it can continue its lifeline service carrying paramedics to the other islands of the Bailiwick and transporting the sick and injured for further care in Guernsey.

Organiser Gary Ward, who was part of the team which undertook a similar challenge more than 30 years ago said: “We have spent many hours during the winter and spring to get the car ready. We have completed a series of float test, which have all been successful. There have been some modifications and improvements, but we are ready to set sail. The car pull will give people a chance to see the car, get behind the project and donate to the marine ambulance. Hopefully lots of people will come out to support us or meet us in town.”

“The Flying Christine III is a charitable asset and this boat along with its predecessors have saved countless lives over the years. It has delivered life-saving treatment and transported many very ill people to hospital. It has also seen new lives being brought into the world. That is only possible thanks to the support and generosity of the public.”

Crewmate Paul Philips added: “We’ve had lots of support from local businesses and people who have donated or sponsored the car so far, but what we really need is a big sponsor or two who wants to get their name all over the car to help boost the fundraising.”

“We are also offering corporate places on the support boat, provided by Herm Trident, for any sponsors who want to be part of the flotilla which will follow the boat on the crossing and join us for a barbecue on Herm.”  

Any businesses or individuals who wish to sponsor the car can contact Paul Philips on 07781 116309 or email ambulance.rescue@ambulance.gg. Donations can also be made by clicking ‘Support the Flying Chistine III marine ambulance’ via ambulance.gg or in person at the ambulance station on the Rohais.

The car pull is scheduled to start at 11:30 and arrive in town by 14:30.

A woman from Sark has given birth onboard the Flying Christine III marine ambulance as it made its way from Sark to Guernsey. The special event happened last month, late at night, on what had been one of the hottest days of the year and while lightning storms lit up the Channel.

Kyla Magell called 999 after she went into labour at her home in Sark during the evening. The marine ambulance and paramedic crew was deployed from St Peter Port and the Sark doctor and island’s tractor driven ambulance was dispatched to the scene. 

When the Flying Christine arrived as Maseline Harbour Kyla was quickly assessed taken aboard for urgent transfer to Guernsey, leaving Sark at just before 11pm. At less than 20 minutes into the crossing, at 11:11pm, Kyla gave birth to a daughter, delivered by the Sark doctor, who had travelled with the patient, and assisted by the Guernsey based paramedic.

This week the volunteer boat crew of the Flying Christine, the medical teams and Dr Jenkins were all reunited with the family in Sark.

Kyla was planning a hospital birth but baby Harriet arrived early. Kyla said: “It ran so smoothy, everyone around me was calm, everyone knew what they were doing and kept me updated as we went along, which I what I needed. I trusted everyone I was with and it was all fine and just fantastic.”

Dad Jake added: “It was a bit surreal watching it all happening, I was sat on the chair next to the stretcher and the crew were shuffling around me, it was quite an experience, but it was amazing. It wasn’t plan A, but it all worked so well together.”

Marine ambulance coxswain Andy Lowe said: “I feel really honoured to have been on the boat crew for such a lovely and memorable event. It was my second time to have a baby born on board from a Sark call out. It was lovely to see the family again.”

Paramedic Jim Cathcart said: “It was a very special occasion, especially for the family, but also for the crew. We don’t get called to many maternity cases and having a baby born in an ambulance is quite unusual, but a baby born on the Flying Christine is extremely rare. We train regularly with midwives from Loveridge Ward and on the night all the training kicked in. Everything went really well. The Flying Christine crew, who are all volunteers, got us there quickly and safely and then kept the ride as smooth as possible for the return journey. They did a fantastic job balancing the urgency to get to St Peter Port with the need to ensure everyone was safe and comfortable on the way back.”

Dr Bruce Jenkins added: “I knew when I examined her, that the baby was coming quickly. It’s easy to be clever in retrospect and I should have probably delivered her baby at home, but in reality, it’s less stressful to have her on the way to hospital in case.

“When babies are born, they come when they want to come and that’s where you’ve got to know what you’re doing. It was uncomplicated and Kyla was fantastic the whole time the whole way through.”

Trainee EMT Ian Ferreira who also part of the medical team was on his first ever trip on the Flying Christine said: “It was a real privilege to be part of this call. Working on a boat that was moving up and down with the sea added another level of complexity, but everyone remained calm and worked together to ensure mum and baby were cared for safely.

“I’m very grateful to have been part of such a special moment. Seeing a new life come into the world in such unique circumstances was an incredible experience and, without doubt, one of the highlights of my journey as a student EMT. It’s something I’ll always remember and a reminder of how rewarding this profession can be.”

 

The Bailiwick's marine ambulance has taken part in the annual Sark Sea Service.

The service and blessing of the fleet was conducted by David Stolton, the Minister for Sark and the Dean of Guernsey the Very Reverend Tim Barker. Guernsey’s Bailiff and Sark dignitaries were also present. Alongside the Flying Christine III were both Guernsey Lifeboats.
 
Following the service while the Flying Christine was returning to St Peter Port she was diverted to a medical case in Herm.

Joint media statement - Friday 10th June

Sark Fire & Rescue Service and Guernsey Fire & Rescue Service have today deployed firefighters to assist the multi-agency response in tackling a gorse fire on Little Sark, which started this morning.
 
At the time of this statement, the fire is believed to cover an area of approximately 20,000 msq, but it is now under control and fire crews will continue to dampen down. Crews do not expect it will spread further. No properties were directly affected by the fire, and water jets are in position to protect those buildings if needed.
 
Unfortunately, five firefighters from Guernsey were injured shortly after arriving in Sark, while travelling to assist at the scene. All five have been assessed by Sark doctor and first responders as having non-life threating injuries.
 
Guernsey Ambulance & Rescue supported with the response, sending the Flying Christine III to Sark with a medical crew and incident officer on board. They were met at the harbour by the Sark Ambulance. The firefighters have been transferred to Guernsey’s Emergency Department, via the marine ambulance, for further treatment. Two road ambulances, a patient transfer vehicle and operational commander were waiting for them at St Peter Port harbour to transfer them to the Princess Elizabeth hospital. The five firefighters are also expected to be discharged from the PEH today. Additional firefighters have been deployed to Sark on board the Flying Christine III to maintain the emergency response.
 
The current north/north easterly wind direction means that the fire is not expected to spread, as it is blowing out to sea.
 
We would like to thank the emergency services, volunteers and island community for their support and assistance during this challenging incident.
 
All agencies worked well together to respond to those affected by the incident. Our thoughts remain with our injured colleagues, and our hopes are for a full and speedy recovery.

Celebrating International Paramedics Day.

Emily is originally from Guernsey and attended Blanchelande College before moving to the UK to train as a paramedic.

She qualified in 2019 with the University of Hertfordshire and went on to work for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

After five years in the NHS, she returned to Guernsey and has been working as a paramedic here since June 2024.

Emily said: “Being a paramedic is a privilege. You meet people on some of the worst days of their lives, and it means a lot to be able to bring a sense of calm, reassurance and care when things feel frightening or uncertain. Working in Guernsey makes that feel even more personal, because this is our Island and our community and there is often some connection to the people we help.

“It can be a tough job, physically and emotionally, but it is also one with a lot of purpose. I feel proud to be part of a team that keeps showing up for people when they need us most.”

nternational Paramedics Day is not just about paramedics, it is a celebration of all emergency medical responders who deliver expert care and compassion to our community.

In Guernsey we employ Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Care Assistants on the frontline blue light service. We also have Ambulance Care Assistants working across our Patient Transfer Service.

Blaise is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in Guernsey. She went to school at St Sampsons High and joined the ambulance service in 2019. She did her initial training on island and then qualified with West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Blaise said: “I love the job because I love being there for our community, helping people out when they are going through difficult experiences and making it better, whether that’s just by checking them over and reassuring them, or by giving treatment and getting them to the appropriate place to continue patient care.

I also love working with my team, which consists of ECA’s, EMT’s and Paramedics. We all work together as a unit, and we will always be there for each other. Nothing is more important than having a close working relationship with your team. We spend long hours at work with our team, so we all understand the hardships and challenges we face. I love our community and will always dedicate myself to caring for them. I’m so proud to work as an EMT alongside ECA’s and Paramedics, and I do what I do knowing I’m making positive impacts on people’s lives.”

Chief Ambulance Officer John Atkins said: “International Paramedics Day is not just about paramedics, it is about recognising the valuable, often life-saving work carried out by all ambulance clinicians. In Guernsey our highly skilled paramedics work alongside Emergency Medical Technicians and Emergency Care Assistants, while in Alderney our Emergency Ambulance Crews are supported by a Paramedic Team Leader and Paramedic Leads. We also work closely with staff in Primary Care, HSC and the voluntary sector, with one common goal, to provide the right person-centred care, in the right place at the right time.”


International Paramedics Day takes place every year on July 8 because this marks the anniversary of the birth of Dominique Jean Larrey, the French military doctor who became Napoleon Bonaparte’s chief surgeon of the Grand Armee and the man often referred to as the ‘father of modern-day
ambulance services.’

Guernsey’s experience in prehospital care for aging populations could offer solutions for other jurisdictions.

An American emergency medicine student has visited Guernsey’s St John Ambulance & Rescue Service to learn more about international emergency and prehospital care.

23-year-old Kenzie Bay, who studied Health and Humanism at Whitman College, spent two weeks with ambulance crews in Guernsey and Alderney for a project which compares advanced care models, with those in less well-resourced jurisdictions.

The fact-finding tour, which was funded by the Watson Foundation, also took Kenzie to Tanzania, India, Thailand, Nepal, Estonia, Norway, the U.K. and El Salvador.

Kenzie said: “I have designed my project to learn about the delivery of care across various modes of transportation and diverse geographies, and how communities build and adapt the emergency care system to fit the environmental context.”

Reflecting on her experience in the islands she said: “The ambulance service in Guernsey is a testament to the idea that EMS is shaped by its community, it has been built and supported by its residents since the start and is specifically designed to support the Guernsey environment. The involvement of fire services, community first responders with AEDs, and the Flying Christine III are all components of extending the ambulance service’s reach and delivering care to small islands without the ease of access to a metropolitan EMS system.”

She added: “I also observed how professional relationships and patient care are influenced by community size, as relationships and rapport were often already established between ambulance, hospital, and firefighting staff, allowing for more efficient and greater continuity of care. Given the greater proportion of elderly patients in the population, exposure to this patient group was higher than I had previously experienced. I appreciated the opportunity to learn from skilled Paramedics, EMTs and ECAs who have become highly knowledgeable at assessing and managing this specific patient population with multiple comorbidities, polypharmacy, and complex social contexts.”

Kenzie also spent some time in Alderney, where the ambulance service is a satellite service provided by Guernsey’s Ambulance & Rescue Service and run by a small but dedicated team of ambulance crew. This was the smallest healthcare system of all those she visited.

“Alderney was a fascinating environment to learn from, as the EMS system has to plan around a higher level of uncertainty and preparedness while balancing the appropriate level of staffing and resources for the community’s size. The island occupies a difficult position in systems development as it is too large to rely primarily on a community first responder model like Sark or Herm, yet too small to warrant the level of services present in Guernsey. Determining the level of resources in Alderney is further complicated by the island’s need for external assistance in the event of high-acuity cases, along with the consideration that access to external resources may be delayed by weather or other operational constraints. While navigating this geographical tension is not necessarily unique it is a good example of geography remaining a pivotal determinant of emergency care requiring resiliency of resources to mitigate its impact and ensure equitable access to emergency care

“What also interested me about Alderney was that it illustrated how scope of practice is often determined by contextual evaluation, rather than being standardised. Compared with Guernsey, ambulance staff practice with greater autonomy and scope because the environment requires such flexibility in protocols. This is an excellent example within my project of how geographic challenges, delayed access to definitive care, and limited local resources can necessitate broader decision-making responsibilities. Providers in Alderney must also balance clinical readiness and clinical exposure and work to maintain proficiency in low-frequency, high-acuity events,” she added.

During her time in Guernsey and Alderney Kenzie attended joint training between the ambulance and fire service, involving complex patient extrication, and pit-stop CPR.

Away from the clinical aspect of her visit Kenzie also had the opportunity to enjoy Guernsey’s stunning coastline and beaches, going for a swim with the team after a shift which is a common shared activity for many of Guernsey’s ambulance crews.

Reflecting on her learning Kenzie draw comparisons between the Guernsey system and the charity and volunteer-driven EMS system in Thailand, as well as the public-private partnership in India.

“From the standpoint of a high-income island environment, Guernsey is a great example of a proportionally designed system, with an approach heavily focused on scale, geography, and community needs. The system in Guernsey is about building and maintaining a system that strikes the right balance: enough resources but not too many, enough scope and specialization but not excessive; and not at the cost of generality,” she said.

“While many countries are preparing for and beginning to feel the effects of an aging population, Guernsey is already experiencing this in its day-to-day operations. Ambulance staff have honed their assessment of frailty, polypharmacy, and complex comorbidities. They are aware of the complexities and pitfalls of prehospital care and social services when managing a growing number of elderly patients. Therefore, providers in Guernsey may have useful insights into the challenges that many ambulance services will increasingly face over the coming decades.”

The Bailiwick’s marine ambulance has responded to urgent medical cases in Sark, Alderney and Herm, with four calls in the space of four days.

On Tuesday Flying Christine III was sent to Alderney for a patient requiring urgent transfer for treatment in Guernsey. A paramedic-led ambulance crew travelled from St Peter Port and following a handover at the Mignot Memorial Hospital the patient was conveyed to Braye Harbour and back to Guernsey.

Two days later the marine ambulance was deployed to Herm following a call from the Herm Community First Responder. A patient with a medical condition was assessed by a paramedic and transferred to Guernsey and onwards via road ambulance to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

The following morning the Sark doctor requested a medevac for a patient needing further treatment and urgent transport to Guernsey. Later the same day, the Flying Christine III returned for an injured person who was transferred onboard using a basket stretcher and given treatment by paramedics on route back to Guernsey. The marine ambulance was met by a second crew at St Peter Port harbour and the patient was taken to the Emergency Department.

The Ambulance & Rescue service would like to thank the volunteer Flying Christine boat-crews who give their time and expertise free of charge to ensure safe passage for the medical teams and patients.

The Flying Christine III is a purpose-designed marine ambulance, which delivers a lifeline service to the islands of the Bailiwick. The boat is a charitable asset, provided by St John Ambulance & Rescue. The vessel was built with public support and continues to operate through a combination of subscriptions and charges alongside sponsorship, charitable donations and fundraising.

The Flying Christine floating car proved a big hit with the crowds at the Harbour Carnival.

Hundreds of people came along to say hello, see the floating car and support the Flying Christine III fundraising appeal. Our new head-in-the-hole photo boards also proved a huge hit.

The bright yellow car is making an appearance at lots of summer events before the volunteer crew members embark on their challenge to sail the car from St Peter Port to Herm and onto Sark later this year.

The Bailiwick’s marine ambulance has been deployed four times in three days, responding to emergency calls in Herm and Sark.

Flying Christine III was sent to Sark twice on Thursday for medical calls. The first case followed a 999 call and a subsequent request from the Sark doctor. The volunteer crew transported the paramedic-led medical team to Sark where they were met by the doctor and the island’s ambulance. The patient was given treatment and was conveyed back to Guernsey for further care. A second patient from an unrelated case was also taken to Guernsey at the request of the doctor.

Shortly before 10pm on Thursday night Flying Christine III  was deployed for the second emergency case, with two patients arriving in St Peter Port just over an hour later. Both patients were taken by waiting road ambulance to the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, with on-going monitoring by the paramedic crew.

The marine ambulance was back in action on Friday evening, with an urgent call to Herm, following a request from the Herm Community First Responder. The patient was carried on to the Flying Christine and treated by the medical team on the return to St Peter Port.

The fourth case was just before 8o’clock on Saturday morning, with a call to Sark. The Guernsey based ambulance crew was transported to Sark on the Flying Christine and following a handover from the Sark GP the patient was conveyed to Guernsey and onward to the Emergency Department.

The Ambulance & Rescue service would like to thank the volunteer Flying Christine boat crew for responding to the four cases.

The Flying Christine III is a purpose-designed marine ambulance, which delivers a lifeline service to the islands of the Bailiwick. The boat is a charitable asset, provided by St John Ambulance & Rescue. The vessel was built with public support and continues to operate through a combination of subscriptions and charges alongside sponsorship, charitable donations and fundraising.

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