In the most recent cases the Lifeboat responded to Sark for a Category One medical emergency and a traumatic injury in Herm and the Brechou Chief was deployed for an injured patient in Sark.In the most recent cases the Lifeboat responded to Sark for a Category One medical emergency and a traumatic injury in Herm and the Brechou Chief was deployed for an injured patient in Sark.
In total since February the Lifeboat has been dispatched with an ambulance service medical team on board on a total of fourteen occasions, with nine missions to Sark, three to Herm and one to a visiting cruise ship. The majority of cases attended by the Lifeboat were for serious or life-threatening medical conditions.
The Brechou Chief has been deployed to twice to Herm and once to Sark for three less urgent medical cases or transfers.
The Access Challenger has also been used on one occasion for a medical case in Sark.
The relief vessels were made available under existing and previous used contingency plans which were enacted when a mechanical fault was discovered during routine annual maintenance of the Flying Christine III in February.
Stuart Malley, Operations Lead at St John Ambulance & Rescue Service (SJARS) said: “We would like to acknowledge to help and co-operation of the RNLI volunteers and the crews of the Brechou Chief and Access Challenger who have assisted the ambulance service while the Flying Christine is out of service. The Flying Christine is thirty years old next year and was originally built with a thirty year design life. While the vessel is well maintained, the global supply chain crisis has resulted in long delays in obtaining parts from the USA. We have had superb support and service from the local marine industry, but the availability of the parts has been out of our control.”
SJARS Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mapp added: “The fact that there have been eighteen marine ambulance missions so far this year proves the need for a dedicated marine ambulance. We are extremely grateful for the crews of the relief vessels for their ongoing support which has enabled us to continue to provide an essential emergency service for the Bailiwick, however we are aware that in most cases the Flying Christine offers better a overall patient experience and enhanced quality of care, with specially designed clinical area, including a fitted ambulance stretcher and inbuilt medical equipment, which replicates the saloon of a road ambulance. As the Flying Christine III nears her thirtieth birthday, we are evaluating the most cost-effective way of extending her design life with additional built-in resilience which will reduce the challenges associated with the availability of spare parts.”
The marine ambulance was originally built thanks to public donations and sponsorship and was launched in 1994 by the Duke of Gloucester. The vessel is operated by expert volunteers and crewed by professional paramedic-led medical teams from Guernsey’s emergency ambulance service, providing pre-hospital paramedic care and the ability to deliver advanced life support for the islands of the Bailiwick.
St John Lifesavers are volunteers who will be trained as Community First Responders, Volunteer Ambulance Reserve and/or Guardians of Alderney’s Public Access Defibrillators.
Community First Responders (CFRs) are trained and equipped to provide life-saving skills in the minutes before the ambulance arrives. Evidence suggests that early recognition of cardiac arrest, early alert of the ambulance, early CPR and early use of an AED can all contribute to improving a patient’s chances of survival. The St John Lifesavers scheme means that when someone dials 999 for a patient in cardiac arrest, or with another life-threatening medical emergency, a team of trained volunteer first responders will be alerted. If they are nearby, they can respond to provide immediate care while the ambulance is en-route.
Volunteer Ambulance Reserves provide extra support and added resilience in major incidents, during times of high demand and in adverse weather conditions. They are trained in how to set up the major incident equipment, assist with transport, logistic and basic first aid.
Guardians of the Public Access Defibrillators will carry out regular checks and routine maintenance of Alderney’s Public Access Defibrillators to ensure they are in working order and ready to be used in an emergency.
SJARS Head of Quality and Patient Safety, Aimee Lihou said: “St John Lifesavers is a great opportunity for islanders to make a difference when it really matters. There is a long tradition of people in Alderney volunteering to support their community in a number of ways, and this scheme will help meet the unique needs of the island and provide additional resilience for the ambulance service.
“These are unpaid roles, but volunteers will gain valuable life skills and will be giving back to their community. St John will provide training and education, equipment, support and uniforms.
“Although distances are relatively small in Alderney, having a trained volunteer with the right equipment available to give immediate care in the minutes before the ambulance arrives can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved. The Community First Responder scheme in Guernsey has proved hugely beneficial so we will be building on the Guernsey experience and adapting the scheme for Alderney. Likewise, the Volunteer Ambulance Reserve have made a huge contribution to supporting the ambulance service, as we witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
St John Ambulance and Rescue Service provides the ambulance service in Alderney on behalf of the States of Alderney. The Alderney service is a satellite station of the Guernsey organisation, operating under the same clinical governance framework, and with ongoing support, leadership and oversight provided by senior staff in Guernsey.
The service employs a small team of full-time and part-time staff who are on call 24/7 on a rota basis. The full time Alderney ambulance crew are trained and qualified to a nationally recognised level in patient care and emergency driving.
Islanders have the opportunity to find out more about the St John Lifesaver scheme and register their interest at the Health & Social Care Open Day at the Mignot Memorial Hospital on Saturday 17th between 10:00 am and 4.00pm.
An assessment day is scheduled to take place in Alderney on Saturday 9th September, where applicants will be assessed on teamwork, communication and physical fitness.
(Photos: Simulation and training excercise in Alderney)
Head of Operations, Dean de la Mare said: “Two of our teams experienced incredibly busy shifts on Saturday responding to a total of 36 calls during the 24 hour period, which is the highest number of calls responded to on record for one day.
“We are incredibly proud of all our clinicians who ensured that all calls are responded to promptly and all patients were treated with the usually high level of care and compassion, despite the high volume of calls being dealt with during this time.”
There was no one specific reason or particular situation which lead to the increase, but cases included various medical conditions, falls, mobility issues, trauma and intoxicated patients.
Going into the weekend ambulance crews responded to 19 calls on Friday, but demand dipped below average on Sunday with just 16 calls and 21 cases were recorded on Monday.
999 calls in Guernsey are categorised using a world class clinical triage system which means the most urgent and highest category of emergencies will get an immediate blue lights and sirens response. However, for less urgent calls the average response time will be longer and the ambulance will travel at normal road speed, so may take longer to arrive.
Category one emergencies have a target response time of 8 minutes. For category two emergencies the ambulance response aims to arrive within 14 minutes. For urgent category three calls there is a target response time of 30 minutes and for less urgent category 4 calls the ambulance service aims to attend within 2 hours.
The investiture took place on Thursday at the historic Priory Church of St John in Clerkenwell, London.
Mark said: “I am deeply honoured and incredibly privileged to have been bestowed the esteemed title of an Officer within The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. This distinguished recognition is a testament to the dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to serving our community since I was a St John cadet.
“Being entrusted with the responsibilities of this illustrious Order fills me with a profound sense of gratitude and humility. The Order’s rich history, founded upon the principles of charity, chivalry and humanitarian service, resonates deeply within my heart. I am acutely aware of the tremendous privilege that comes with this appointment, as it affords me the opportunity to continue in my local roles to make a tangible difference within St John.”
Mark joined St John as a cadet at the age of 15, taking part in first aid competitions in Ambulance Aid in Jersey and the UK, before becoming a volunteer with the adult section of the Guernsey Ambulance Division of St John.
After studying in Portsmouth, Mark returned to Guernsey and joined the St John charity, volunteering in a number of senior roles and serving with the Volunteer Ambulance Reserves, a group which supports the emergency ambulance service at times of high demand and at major incidents. In 1998 he went on to join SJARS and trained to become a paramedic, serving. During his career Mark has also worked for the East of England Ambulance Service and Guernsey’s health service, although he has always continued to be involved with St John in various roles. He returned to the ambulance service in 2019 and was appointed Chief Ambulance Officer.
Mark was accompanied at the ceremony by his wife Pauline and the Knight Commander of St John in Guernsey John Hollis.
John Hollis said: “I was delighted that Mark Mapp’s cumulative service to the St John organisation in Guernsey, which started many years ago as a cadet, was formally and widely acknowledged by the Order of St John at the Priory in London.
“The events on the day of his Investiture as an Officer of St John helped to highlight the wide range of services provided by St John in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. These include the emergency ambulance service commissioned and part-funded by the States of Guernsey, the ambulance service in Alderney and a further substantial range of services provided by St John volunteers. The latter include the volunteer crew of the Flying Christine Marine Ambulance, Community First Responders, Youth Services to inspire more “home-grown” in the Health and Care sector, Library Services and Caring Callers.”
The Order of St John, formally known as The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, is a Royal Order of Chivalry first constituted as such by Royal Charter from Queen Victoria in 1888. Currently, His Majesty King Charles III is the Sovereign Head of The Order of St John.
Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell and Mrs Cripwell where introduced to the members of the Alderney ambulance crew by the Chief Executive Officer of SJARS, Mark Mapp and Head of Quality and Patient Safety Aimee Lihou, who is the senior officer responsible for Alderney.
After talking to staff and learning about their training and the new model of ambulance provision in Alderney, Mr and Mrs Cripwell were invited to watch a road traffic collision exercise where the ambulance service worked together with volunteers from the Alderney Fire & Rescue Service to safely extricate and treat a casualty who had been trapped in a crashed car.
Following the demonstration the couple were introduced to Chief Fire Officer Mark Gaudion and volunteers from the fire service. The Lieutenant Governor and his wife spent time talking to representatives of both services and thanked ambulance staff and volunteer fire crews for their work and service to the island community. His Excellency said he was deeply impressed by the knowledge, skills, and compassion demonstrated by the emergency service personel. 
Earlier in the day the Lieutenant Governor and his wife had visited the Alderney Police station as part of their tour of the blue light services on the island.
St John Ambulance and Rescue Service took on responsibility for the provision of ambulance operations in Alderney on 1st April 2023. The Alderney service is a satellite of the Guernsey organisation operating under the same clinical governance framework with ongoing support, leadership and oversight provided by senior staff in Guernsey.
The service has employed four Alderney residents who have undertaken clinical and driver training, as part of a nationally recognised qualification, and gained experience working alongside experienced clinicians in Guernsey. 
The Alderney service will continue to build resilience by establishing a new group of volunteer life savers who will support the full-time staff in major incidents and community first response. Recruitment of volunteers will start during the summer period.
Head of Operations at St John Ambulance & Rescue Service Dean de la Mare and Paramedic Nick Peters were part of the Uniformed Civilian Services contingent which lined the streets for Whitehall section of the King’s procession between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. Dean and Nick were among around 200 members of uniformed civilian services, including fire, police, coastguard, WRVS and prison service who took part in the celebrations. Long serving St John volunteer Alan Stevens also attended the ceremonial events as a street liner on behalf of the St John Ambulance Guernsey charity.
Aimee Lihou, Head of Quality & Patient safety represented the Guernsey ambulance service at the Coronation Service at the Town Church, St Peter Port over the Coronation weekend, while Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp who was visiting Jersey was invited to attend the island’s official service of thanksgiving with Jersey’s Chief Ambulance Officer. 
The standards of St John Ambulance & Rescue and St John Ambulance Guernsey were also paraded through St Peter Port as part of the military and uniformed parade which took place ahead of a 21 gun salute at Castle Cornet on the morning of the Coronation.
Head of Operations Dean de la Mare and Paramedic Nick Peters will represent Guernsey’s St John Ambulance & Rescue Service at the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in London on Saturday 6 May. Dean and Nick will be part of the Uniformed Civilian Services contingent which will line the streets for Whitehall section of the King’s procession which will travel between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
Dean and Nick are both members of the ambulance service colour party and have represented St John at numerous ceremonial events and parades locally, including the Liberation Day church service and Remembrance Sunday.
Long serving volunteer Alan Stevens will represent the St John Ambulance Guernsey charity at the event in London. Alan has been a member of St John for more than 45 years having joined as a Cadet at the age of 12. Alan has been a member of the standard party for several years and also regularly takes part in ceremonial events in Guernsey.
Around 200 members of uniformed civilian services, including fire, police, coastguard, WRVS and prison service have been invited to take part in the celebrations and will be positioned five paces apart along the procession route. Members of the contingent will remain on parade during the Coronation itself, and will stay in place for the parade back to Buckingham Palace following the Coronation.
Dean de la Mare said: “It is a great honour to represent Guernsey’s ambulance service and be invited to take part in the King’s Coronation. There is a longstanding bond between the emergency services and the monarchy, and King Charles is also the Sovereign Head of the Order of St John.
A lot of logistical and operational planning goes into every ceremonial event and the King’s procession will be no exception. A high level of professionalism will be expected from everyone involved. We will be wearing our dress uniform and white gloves and there will be just a brief opportunity to rehearse the drill on the evening before the parade.”
Meanwhile in Guernsey, Paul Philips will represent the ambulance service at the Coronation parade which will assemble at Belvedere, Fort George on Saturday morning and march down the Val des Terres to the Model Yacht Pond. Volunteers Robin Gonard, Jacqueline Hancock and Tanya Goubert will form the colour party for the St John Ambulance charity for the Guernsey parade.
On Sunday Aimee Lihou, Head of Quality and Patient Safety, will represent the Ambulance & Rescue Service at the Coronation Church Service at the Town Church, St Peter Port.
Volunteers from the St John Ambulance charity will also be on duty providing first aid cover at a number of public events in Guernsey over the weekend, as well as Liberation Day events later in the week.
(Photo credit: Chris Jackson)
The project, which began in 2022 following the award of a bursary from the Insurance Corporation, runs within Kelly Marquis’ Paramedic Practitioner role. Providing free health, wellbeing, and home assessments to islanders over the age of 80 who meet the project criteria, with the aim of providing support to the ageing community, helping them to stay safe and well in the comfort of their own homes.
Ms Marquis said: “We initially shared bottles with service users as a nice gesture during our visits, in addition to the card and birthday cake they receive, but soon realised the health and lifestyle benefits they were providing following several feedback comments from those using them.
“The structure of the bottle allows sipping without having to lift the bottle, it prevents spills, and with the help of a carabiner, can easily be attached to a mobility aid, allowing users to take water with them where previously they may have been unable to do so.”
Tania Sargent, customer service manager at Guernsey Water, said: “We were so impressed by the project and its positive impact on the community. We understand the importance of staying hydrated, but also appreciate that it is easier said than done for a lot of islanders,
supporting the project through a bottle sponsorship is our way of helping to spread this message to older members of our community.”
The utility confirmed that along with the bottles, information on additional support available with Guernsey Water would be included.
(Media release provided by Guernsey Water)
The purpose-built vessel, which was constructed with donations and funding from the public was launched in 1994, with a design life of 30 years and has now been in operation for 29 years.
St John Ambulance and Rescue Service has now ordered replacement bespoke parts, which are being specially manufactured, with an expected lead time of six weeks.
We are continuing to work closely with our partners to ensure that other vessels in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, can provide cover while the marine ambulance undergoes repairs and we will continue to provide essential emergency services to the Bailiwick islands with the support of those partners.
The marine ambulance is crewed by professional paramedic-led medical teams from Guernsey’s emergency ambulance service, providing pre-hospital paramedic care and the ability to deliver advanced life support for the islands of the Bailiwick.
The St Peter Port lifeboat has been deployed on eight marine ambulance missions since the Flying Christine III was taken out of the water for reparirs earlier this year.
Click below for previous news about the work on the Flying Christine III
The First Aid in Schools programme has operated since 2008 and delivers a flexible syllabus of First Aid training to all year 5,7 & 8 students across the Bailiwick. Since it began, the scheme has taught life saving skills to thousands of the island’s school children. St John training officer Lorna Higgins-Bare said it was paramount that the course is available to all schools. “We believe that every young person should have the chance to learn first aid, it should be as much a part of growing up as learning the alphabet,” she said. “Learning first aid not only provides young people with important lifesaving skills, but it also helps to build self-esteem and confidence.”
The Guernsey Community Foundation provides support to private charitable trusts who want to award grants but lack the resources, such as time or staff, to do so. Foundation chief executive Jim Roberts explained how the St John charity was able to gain the grant. “In this case, St John applied to the foundation’s own grants programme and we approached a private charitable trust that we work with, as we felt that this would fit perfectly with their objectives.”
The grant of £12,000 will go towards the cost of running the First Aid in Schools programme for 2023, which includes buying bandages, equipment and first aid kits.
The First Aid in Schools programme is run by the St John charity and is funded by donations, grants and sponsorship. Fundraising is already underway for the 2024 programme, which commences in the new school term of September 2023. Anyone interested in supporting the scheme is encouraged to contact the fundraising team on 01481 727129 or by sending an email here
