£20,000 is urgently needed to complete the second phase of the refurbishment of the Flying Christine III.

 The marine ambulance which was 30 years old in November is due to go to the Isle of Wight later this week for internal improvements including, medical upgrades, navigation and communication equipment.

Escalating costs associated with the work means that while existing charitable funds will cover the essential internal maintenance, the funds still need to be found for the refurbishing and painting the external bodywork.

When the Flying Christine III was launched in 1994 it had a life expectancy of 30 years, but following a survey and subsequent feasibility report, it was decided to extend the life of the vessel by a further 10 years with an extensive refurbishment. The first phase was completed in the spring of last year, with the second phase imminent.

Ambulance and Rescue Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mapp said: “The first phase of the refit went well and within budget, however the costs associated with the second phase have risen and we have had to focus on ensuring the essential clinical and marine works are prioritised.

“Over the past 30 years clinical standards and infection control measures have improved, so ensuring patient safety and care is a priority. Ensuring the marine ambulance is able to continue providing a lifeline service, deliver high quality care and meet the high standards expected comes at a cost.

“The outside of the boat is starting to show its age and is in need of some cosmetic repairs and repainting, however without additional funds this won’t happen, which is why we are appealing for urgent help to raise the final £20,000.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by using the QR code below, by sending a cheque payable to “St John Ambulance and Rescue” to Ambulance Station, Rohais, St Peter Port, GY1 1YN or via the appeal page on the Ambulance.gg website. To discuss other sponsorship opportunties email Ambulance.Rescue@stjohn.gg FOA the Chief Officer. 

The Flying Christine III is a specially designed marine ambulance, built in 1994 with the support of public funds and donations. The charitable asset continues to operate today through a combination of sponsorship, charges and subscriptions. The vessel is crewed by volunteers from the local marine community and professional ambulance crews from Guernsey’s ambulance service and delivers pre-hospital paramedic care and emergency transport for the sick and injured in the other islands of the Bailiwick.

While the Flying Christine is out of the water to maintenance relief vessels will be used to maintain cover for the other islands, under existing and well rehearsed contingency plans.

Have you joined the 2025 ambulance subscription scheme or renewed your membership?

Ambulances in Guernsey are not free, but you can get annual cover by joining the subscription scheme.

Without a subcription you could be charged up to £562 for an ambulance call, but a subscription for an adult is £68.

Benefits of joining the subscription scheme include up to five free emergency ambulance responses, including assessment and treatment by qualified clinicians for subscribers; up to 10 non-emergency patient transfers; up to five Flying Christine marine ambulance transfers.  

For the first time ever this year, people have been able to buy the subscription at any Guernsey Post branch – making it easier than ever to take out cover. This new arrangement has proved popular with islanders.  

Ambulance and Rescue Finance Director Simon Gardiner said: “No one wants to think 2025 is going to be a year they need an ambulance, but the truth is we respond to 7000 callouts every year. The subscription means if you’re one of them, you won’t receive a bill. We know it’s a time of year when money is tight, but it really is something you’ll be extremely glad you took out if you need to call us.  

“We are talking about the equivalent of 19p per day, for an adult. You can pay at any Guernsey Post branch and online. It just takes a few minutes and could save you a lot of financial worry.”  

Join online or at any branch of Guernsey Post

An ambulance subscription also covers the Flying Christine III, which is currently celebrating 30 years of service and assists people needing emergency transfers from other islands in the Bailiwick.  

Anyone without a subscription faces a bill of £622 if they’re transferred from Herm, and £2329 if  transferred from Sark. The Flying Christine III has responded to more than 1000 callouts in its history.  

“We keep these costs as low as we can, running an efficient and effective service for visitors and residents alike. This is why we’re urging you to buy a subscription for just £68 for an adult, to avoid having to pay these full costs should the worse happen.”  

Anyone with an existing direct debit does not need to take any action as existing direct debits will updated and automatically be renewed.  

Charges & Subscriptions

 

Demand for Guernsey’s ambulance service remained steady in 2024 with the total number of calls almost equalling the figure for 2023.

Ambulance and Rescue responded to a total of 6852 cases last year, just 5 less than the previous 12 months. Therefore, the daily average of 18 calls a day remains approximately the same. The figure includes emergency and urgent calls and transfers.

Head of Operations, Dean de la Mare said: “Due to the dynamic nature of ambulance work the ambulance service experiences periods of high demand and periods when call volume dropped below average. On one day in December we had a record equalling 36 cases in 24 hours. At times like this all ambulance crews can be committed to jobs, with ambulance managers redeployed to frontline duties and additional staff called back into work to maintain emergency cover for the island.”

Ambulance and Rescue experienced episodes of high demand during the Christmas and New Year period, with a peak in calls on Christmas Eve night, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Between 0800-1600 on Christmas Day emergency crews responded to 26 cases, then on New Year’s Day there were 6 incidents in 3 hours just after midnight.

“It is very rare for ambulances to have to queue outside the Emergency Department, but on the few occasions when this does happen we have plans in place which include sending a Hospital Ambulance Liaison Officer to the PEH to assist with the triaging and safe handover of patients,” he added.

In Guernsey, 999 calls are answered and categorised by the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC) using a world-class clinical triage system which ensures the most appropriate response for all cases. The most serious and life-threatening Category 1 cases are quickly identified, so the nearest ambulance resource can be dispatched immediately. Category 2 cases also get a blue light response, with a target of 14 minutes for the ambulance to arrive. Category 3 and 4 are for less urgent cases and are responded to at road speed. At times of high demand it may take us longer to get to these cases.

Meet the Team: Sonia Guille

Congratulations to Paramedic Station Officer Sonia Guille who this week celebrates 30 years with Guernsey’s ambulance service.

After working as auxiliary nurse and in the hospitality industry Sonia joined Ambulance and Rescue in 1994. She initially started with the patient transport service before becoming an Emergency Medical Technician and then qualifying as Guernsey’s first female paramedic.

Sonia is now one of our Team Leaders, which involves leading and managing a team of staff, supervising the daily operations and ensuring the smooth running of the service. Sonia also responds as an Incident Officer to serious accidents and major incidents, ensuring that the service standards are met and overseeing the joint working and interoperability with  other emergency services.

Sonia said: “Although my role is of a supervisory nature, I still regularly practice as Paramedic which is still the best part of my job and the reason for joining the service. There is a real sense of satisfaction when you are able to help patients when they are feeling at their worst. The feeling of  making a difference to someone’s life and making people feel better is rather gratifying and special.”

Sonia added “I like the fact that no day is the same, the work we do is unpredictable in nature and were faced with different situations on a daily basis. I have been really lucky and had many opportunities to work in Sark providing medical cover over the years. This has been one of the many highlights of my job. I also had the privilege and honour to represent Guernsey’s ambulance service at the Remembrance Sunday parade in London in November 2022, which was an experience I will never forget.”

During the past 30 years Sonia has seen many changes, clinicians now need to be more skilled in managing long term conditions, treat patients with complex conditions and a range of urgent care presentations in the community, and assist people with acute presentations of mental health

Paramedics have become more autonomous in providing care in the community. Advances in prehospital care mean also the amount of medical drugs and clinical skills available have also increased dramatically.

Can you help us to continue these important services?

Policies

• Privacy Policy

Get Involved

• Donate
• Volunteer

Contact Us

• 01481 725211
• info@stjohn.gg

Social

Subscribe

Useful Links

St John International

AACE

St John Charity

TASC

States of Guernsey