With a focus on bolstering community resilience and emergency response capabilities, St John welcomes the upcoming launch of Community First Responders and the strategic placement of additional defibrillators across the island.
Alderney currently has eight strategically positioned PAD sites, instrumental in providing life-saving interventions during critical cardiac emergencies. SJARS has only been responsible for these PAD sites since April. We identified that three existing defibrillators were not in working order and these were subsequently removed from service. The remaining sites, although functional, will require replacement in the near future.
Upholding its pledge to the Alderney community, charitable donations from St John are now funding the procurement of all defibrillators and boxes, which are presently in the ordering process.
Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp said: “This investment underscores our commitment to maintaining a reliable network of defibrillators that those in need can readily access. In addition to addressing immediate needs, St John is excited to collaborate with the Alderney community as it prepares to introduce Community First Responders. This progressive initiative will empower local individuals to provide rapid, life-saving assistance in medical emergencies until the professional ambulance service arrives. This development and the placement of new defibrillators demonstrates St John’s role as a dedicated partner in advancing the island’s emergency response infrastructure.”
As part of St John’s ongoing commitment, the PAD sites are under regular supervision and inspection by our Alderney-based team. St John Ambulance & Rescue Service remains devoted to fostering a culture of preparedness and safety within Alderney, ensuring that the island’s residents can face emergencies confidently and resiliently.
There will be future FREE training awareness events that will teach the community Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) that will be provided by our Alderney-based teams.
St John Ambulance and Rescue Service (SJARS) provides both emergency ambulance operations, which accounts for more than 6,500 calls and the non-emergency patient transfer service which attends nearly 3000 cases.
SJARS is looking to appoint Emergency Care Assistants (ECAs) and Ambulance Care Assistants (ACAs) to maintain and increase resilience across the operation.
ECAs work a part of double-crewed ambulance alongside paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians as an integral part of the frontline emergency service and are trained to deliver pre-hospital care and treatment to the sick and injured.
ACAs transport patients to and from medical appointment, dialysis treatment and other outpatient consultations, where people are unable to travel by other means.
Head of Operations Dean de la Mare said: “Working for the ambulance service is very rewarding. It is a career where you can make a real difference to people lives when it really matters. The ECA role can be a good entry point for someone wanting to start a career in the ambulance service, we have seen a number of our ECAs training to become Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. We are currently recruiting to fill vacant positions and additional roles, which will help us increase our overall resilience. Over recent years we have seen a trend of increased demand for our services.”
Nicky Strong who used to work in sales and marketing had a career change and joined to Non-Emergency Patient Transfer Service 4 years ago as an Ambulance Care Assistant, before gaining promotion to the role of NEPTS team leader. She said: “To do this job you need to be a people person, with good communication skills and perhaps most importantly a caring nature. We spend a lot of time on the road, traveling to and from hospital and other health sites, so you also need to enjoy driving and have a reasonable level of fitness, as there is some manual handling. You get to meet lots of people and at the end of every day you know you’ve made a difference.”
Head of Human Resources Karen Ferneyhough added: “We will provide all the necessary training to a nationally recognised level and provide opportunities for new colleagues to work alongside experienced ambulance clinicians to consolidate their training. We also support people who want to progress to higher clinical levels, with further training and qualifications for suitable candidates.”
St John also provides the Flying Christine III marine ambulance staffed by paramedic led medical crews which is a lifeline for the other islands of the Bailiwick.
Details of the current vacancies can be found at ambulance.gg/recruitment
Repairs were delayed while a replacement part was sourced from manufacturers in the USA and shipped to Guernsey, which was hindered by the global supply chain crisis. During this time St John has taken the opportunity to complete a number of other servicing tasks and upgrades, including work on the vessel’s electronics and cosmetics.
The Flying Christine has undergone extensive sea trials in local waters in readiness to return to service. Sea trials were completed last week with no issues reported and the vessel was back on call at St Peter Port harbour on Friday. During the past two weeks the Flying Christine has also been deep cleaned and restocked with medical equipment and supplies.
Under existing and previously used contingency plans a number of relief vessels have been made available to ensure the ambulance service has been able to respond to urgent and emergency cases in the other islands of the Bailiwick over the past few months.
The RNLI St Peter Port Lifeboat, Brecqhou Chief, Access Challenger and the Pilot boat have all been deployed with ambulance crews onboard for various medical and trauma cases.
Since February St John Ambulance & Rescue Service has been deployed on a total of 31 marine missions. 21 to Sark, 8 to Herm and 2 to visiting cruise ships.
The RNLI St Peter Port Life boat has responded to 24 of those incidents, most of which were Category 1 or 2 medical emergencies.
The Brecqhou Chief has been deployed on 4 occasions, Access Challenger has been deployed twice and the pilot boat used once. These were for less urgent medical cases. 
Stuart Malley, Operations Lead at St John Ambulance & Rescue Service (SJARS) said: “I would like to thank the volunteers from the St Peter Port Lifeboat and the crews of the Brecqhou Chief, Access Challenger and the pilot boat who have all helped St John maintain lifeline medical cover for the other islands. They have responded to emergencies around the clock, leaving their jobs and their families, often in the middle of the night to assist us. I would also like to thank the volunteers who crew of the Flying Christine, that have given many additional hours working behind the scenes to prepare the vessel for a return to duty.”
SJARS Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mapp added: “I would also like to thank the crews of the relief vessels, as well the St Peter Port lifeboat management and other the boat owners for their support and assistance over the past few months, which has allowed us to continue to provide an essential emergency service for the Bailiwick. After extensive delays, which have been beyond our control I am pleased that the Flying Christine is back in operation as a dedicated, purpose built marine ambulance which has a devoted clinical area and inbuilt medical equipment, designed to enhance patient care and the patient experience.”
The Flying Christine III was originally built thanks to public donations and sponsorship and was launched in 1994 by the Duke of Gloucester, with a design life of 30 years.
Mr Mapp added: “The recent work on the Flying Christine will help extend her operational life, however as we look to the long term, we are continuing to evaluate the most cost-effective way of extending her design life further with additional resilience being built-in.”
The Flying Christine III is the third in a succession of St John marine ambulances dating back to 1952. The current 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 volunteers from across the world including St John Wales, St John Australia, St John Gibraltar, St John England, joined the St John Guernsey volunteers and staff from St John Ambulance & Rescue, to provide first aid cover over the course of the week-long event. In a number of incidents, 67 patients consisting of both competitors and spectators directly involved with the games were treated.
“Without a doubt, the Guernsey Island Games is the largest event that St John Ambulance Guernsey has covered in recent years. The level of planning was extensive and several years in the making” said Phil Ozanne, Community Operations Manager for the St John charity “I am also very pleased that several of our St John Ambulance colleagues from across the world, gave up their own time to join us in Guernsey and provide their services and skills to complement those of our Guernsey volunteers. There has been a real team spirit across the board and many of our Guernsey volunteers in particular, stepped up to take on additional responsibilities and tasks above and beyond those of their normal duties. I’m immensely proud of all of them”
In preparation for the games, several thousand hours were spent in training sessions and on planning. More than 60 volunteers and members of staff from St John, provided in excess of 1,887 duty hours over 22 separate events. St John provided 8 vehicles, numerous temporary structures, pop-up treatment first-aid posts and several tons of specialist medical equipment. The emergency ambulance service also attended seven cases involving Island Games team members, five of which were at sporting events and two were at team accommodation.
John Hollis, Knight Commander of St John Guernsey said “What a fantastic and friendly Island Games in Guernsey, based on reactions from competitors, visitors and locals alike. Obviously, such events simply cannot take place without the considerable efforts and expertise of St John volunteers and professionals. Just as St John Guernsey provided substantial support a few years ago to Gibraltar when the Island Games took place there, we also benefitted from substantial support from our international colleagues and we give them our heartfelt thanks for it.”
Dean de la Mare Head of Operations for the Emergency Ambulance & Rescue said: “The Island Games was a fantastic week for Guernsey. As part of our preparations for the Games a number of specific response plans were drawn up and additional staff were brought in to provide cover for some of the sporting events. The Games passed without serious incident and I am pleased that our contingency plans were not needed. During this time the service also continued to provide the emergency and urgent pre-hospital care for the island. I would like to thank the crews who were on duty and the St John volunteers, including those who traveled from other countries, who also provided additional support during the week.”
St John Guernsey wishes to sincerly thank all of the volunteers & staff members. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the employers of our volunteers, as many have given our volunteers time off from work, so that they were able to volunteer their time for the games.
“I wholeheartedly endorse and acknowledge the significance of International Paramedics Day, organised by The College of Paramedics. This annual observance is a valuable platform to celebrate and recognise the paramedic profession locally and globally. In recent years, paramedics have made remarkable progress in their field, enabling them to specialise in various areas such as urgent care, primary care, intensive care, and community care. This diversification of skills has empowered paramedics to provide specialised and tailored healthcare services to those in need.
On our island, most paramedics fulfil their essential roles within the emergency ambulance service operated by St John Ambulance & Rescue Service, tirelessly serving our community with dedication and expertise. Additionally, we are fortunate to have a specialist paramedic working in Health and Social Care Community Services, highlighting the potential for collaboration and integration of services.
By forging strong partnerships with Health and Social Care, St John paramedics can play a pivotal role in alleviating the burdens placed on acute hospitals. Through the provision of community-based urgent care services, we can make a tangible impact on reducing the strain on hospital resources while ensuring timely and accessible healthcare for those who require it.
International Paramedics Day brings attention to the remarkable work performed by paramedics worldwide, showcasing their dedication, skill, and compassion. It serves as a reminder of the critical role they play in saving lives, providing emergency medical services, and promoting public health. It is also a reminder that paramedics are often supported by other ambulance clinicians and trained volunteers, all vital in providing our community with pre hospital care.”
Mark Mapp, Chief Executive Officer
St John Ambulance & Rescue Service
The funds have been raised over the past 12 months by the organisation with the St John Community First Responder scheme chosen as the beneficiary by President Gill Girard. The donation will cover the costs of a new CFR, a volunteer trained and equipped to provide immediate life-saving first aid to seriously ill patients in their vicinity in the minutes before the ambulance arrives.
Gill Girard said: “I chose to support the St John Community First Responder scheme as my chosen charity this year because I realise how important a CFR is at the scene of an emergency and what a difference that early intervention can make while waiting for the ambulance. We are delighted to be able to help fund the training and equipping of a CFR.”
Earlier this year Chief Executive Officer of St John Ambulance & Rescue Service Mark Mapp gave a talk to members of the Inner Wheel about the CFR scheme.
Mark Mapp said: “I am extremely grateful to Gill and the Inner Wheel for their remarkable support in the recent fundraising campaign for our Community First Responder initiative. The generous contribution will significantly impact our mission to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. With this help, we are better equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies, ensuring that lives can be saved and injuries minimised.”
“Since I spoke to the Inner Wheel earlier this year, I am aware of at least two cases where a first responder has been instrumental in saving a life and another case where a publicly accessible defibrillator has been successfully used before the ambulance arrived on scene”.
Evidence suggests that early recognition that someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest, early alerting of the ambulance, early CPR and use of an AED all contribute to improving a patient’s chances of survival.
In Guernsey, when someone dials 999 to ask for an ambulance for a patient in cardiac arrest, or with another life-threatening medical emergency, a team of trained volunteer Community First Responders are also alerted, so that if they are nearby they can respond to provide immediate care in the first few minutes before the ambulance arrives.
Inner Wheel is one of the largest voluntary women’s service organisations in the world, with women working together to make a difference and improve lives. The objectives of Inner Wheel are to promote true friendship; to encourage the ideals of personal service; and to foster international understanding, which is achieved through fundraising and personal service.
The donation to St John was made as Gill Girard comes to the end of her year in office as the President of Inner Wheel. Gill will hand over the role at the organisation’s AGM this month.
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.
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)
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