A Paramedic Officer from Guernsey has been gaining valuable experience on a placement with specialist paramedics at the UK’s busiest ambulance service.
Ross Senior spent four days shadowing a range of different clinical and leadership roles within London Ambulance Service (LAS).
Ross spent time with the London’s Air Ambulance (LAA) Advanced Trauma Team, considered to be one of the most advanced major trauma team in the pre-hospital environment, anywhere in the world, providing hospital-level lifesaving surgery and full anaesthetic procedures at the road side. He also shadowed an advanced paramedic in critical care, giving him the chance to observe the clinical interventions and clinical leadership skills of a senior paramedic response for treating London’s sickest patients.
On one shift Ross was deployed to a significant fire at the prestigious Chiltern Firehouse Hotel, which involved twenty fire appliances and one hundred and twenty firefighters. On that occasion he was working with one of the capitals eight Incident Response Officers, who are dispatched to complex incidents to oversee the ambulance response, manage the scene and co-ordinate with other agencies.
Ross said: “I am incredibly grateful for my time with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, I have gained a valuable insight to their services. The objective was to identify what I could learn to bring back to the ambulance service in Guernsey from both a clinical care and a service delivery perspective. I also had the opportunity to consolidate and develop my operational commander skills. This opportunity has helped me personally and also identify potential areas of improvement for our own service.”
Ross also spent some time in the emergency operations centre (EOC) which takes London’s 999 calls, and dispatches specialist resources. London Ambulance Service deploys between 400 and 450 ambulances at peak times each day. Serving a population of 9 million, it is the busiest ambulance trust in the UK, responding to more than 6,000 calls on a busy day, meaning that the Service responds to almost as many calls in a day as Guernsey’s ambulance service does in a year.
Chris Doyle, Incident Response Officer at London Ambulance Service and Flight Paramedic at London’s Air Ambulance, said:
“Having recently worked closely with Ross and his colleagues on Guernsey, it was a pleasure to host Ross here in London.
“Working with various departments within London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, we brought together an observation programme that reflected the delivery of critical care and complex incident management within the capital. I’m glad that the time Ross spent here in London was useful and that we continue to work in partnership to improve patient care in both organisations.”
Ogier partner Martyn Baudains, who is a member of the firm’s local CSR Committee, said: “The Flying Christine is a vital resource, delivering pre-hospital paramedic care and emergency transport for patients across the islands. In hearing of the charity’s appeal, our local CSR Committee was keen to contribute. We hope that Guernsey’s community will rally together to help Ambulance and Rescue raise the necessary funds for the refurbishment of the Flying Christine III.”
The donation from Ogier means the appeal, which was launched two weeks ago, has already reached £10,000 - half of its £20,000 target.
Ambulance and Rescue Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp said: “The Flying Christine III relies on charitable donations to continue its lifesaving work across the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organisations, we can keep the marine ambulance operational and keep our volunteer crew safe —even in the most challenging weather conditions—ensuring paramedic care reaches all corners of the Bailiwick. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Ogier for their support, which moves us closer to our target and which will help us ensure the refurbishment can be completed.”
He added: “We have received a number of donations ranging from small amounts to some of larger value. Every single donation makes a difference and is hugely appreciated. Without these funds, we simply wouldn’t be able to safely deliver the high standard of care that our communities rely on.”
Work on the Flying Christine III is already underway at the Diverse Marine boatyard in the Isle of Wight. The current project, which is the second phase of the 30-year refit, includes upgrading navigation and communication equipment, updating the clinical treatment area to bring it in line with modern infection control standards and improve reliability.
The purpose-built marine ambulance is due to return to service in Bailiwick waters in the spring, providing prehospital paramedic care for the islands.
While the Flying Christine is out of the water for maintenance relief vessels will be used to maintain cover for the other islands, under existing and well-rehearsed contingency plans.
Guernsey’s ambulance CEO receives King’s Ambulance Medal at Windsor Castle
The Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance and Rescue and Guernsey’s Chief Ambulance Officer has been presented with the King’s Ambulance Medal (KAM) by the Princess Royal at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Mark Mapp was named as a recipient of the prestigious award in the King’s Birthday Honours in June last year and was invited to the Royal residence in December.
Mr Mapp was accompanied by his wife, son and daughter at the event. He said: “It was a delight to be invited to Windsor Castle for the investiture. I understand that Windsor is used only around four times a year for such events, and the Castle being closed to the public for the day added to the sense of occasion. There were approximately sixty honourees present, and I felt deeply privileged to be among individuals from across the country and the Commonwealth who had been recognised for their outstanding contributions. It was truly fascinating to talk to others and learn about their achievements and the what they do. Before the presentation, we had the privilege of a private tour of the castle, which was both captivating and rich with history, showcasing its grandeur and immense historical significance.”
He added: “The ceremony was nothing like I expected, I thought everyone would be in one room together and we’d be called up one by one, but it is just you and your family, the Princess Royal and her Guards. There was an orchestra playing regal music as you enter the grand reception room, all adding to the occasion. Because I was the last recipient of the day I was there as the orchestra played the National Anthem and Her Royal Highness left the room. I can hardly comprehend the significance of the occasion—it’s only when I look back at the photos that I truly believe I was there and that it actually happened”.
Mark’s connection to St John Guernsey began as a 15-year-old when he joined as a St John Cadet. His ambulance career started at Ambulance and Rescue in 1998, later qualifying as a paramedic. He left full-time employment with the service in 2011 and spent eight years working in various roles at Health and Social Care (HSC) while continuing part-time as a paramedic. Shortly after returning as a senior officer to the ambulance service in 2019 he was appointed as Chief Ambulance Officer.
Mark guided Guernsey’s ambulance service successfully through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and he has been instrumental in the development of the service as part of Health and Social Care’s Partnership of Purpose.
His focus is on enhancing patient care and compassion, improving quality, delivering clinical excellence and financial stability. He works closely with government and the heads of the other blue light services, ensuring Ambulance and Rescue is prepared to support the islands in all eventualities.
Today, Mark continues to be a registered paramedic and although his main role is to deliver strategic oversight, he remains operational and from time to time works with frontline crews responding to medical emergencies.
Mark has also held a number of senior volunteer roles with the St John Guernsey charity and continues to volunteer as a Community First Responder. He also sits on the board of the St John charity. Mark was appointed an Officer of the Order of St John in 2023, he is a member of the College of Paramedics and a committed supporter of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC).
Talking about what it meant to receive the King’s Ambulance Medal, Mark said: “I am truly honoured I have been fortunate to have worked with so many dedicated individuals committed to delivering care and compassion to islanders in their time of need. Guernsey truly has a remarkable team within the ambulance and health care service, making a difference in people’s lives every day. I am also proud of my long-standing association with St John, where my ambulance career really began, and I hope this award reflects that as well.”
The KAM was initially introduced by Royal Warrant as the Queen’s Ambulance Medal in 2011, to recognise exceptional service and dedication in the ambulance sector in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. It became the King’s Ambulance Medal in 2022.
It is part of the UK Honours System, intended to honour individuals who have shown outstanding commitment, leadership, or innovation in their work. It aligns with other awards, such as the King’s Fire Service Medal or the King’s Police Medal, which similarly honour extraordinary contributions within public service professions.
£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.”
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.
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In November 2024 we marked the 30th anniversary of the Flying Christine III with a special event to celebrate the marine ambulance and her dedicated crews.
The event took place at the Guernsey Yacht Club and was attended by His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, the Bailiff of Guernsey, former and current volunteer crew members and supporters. The Dean of Guernsey conducted a short ceremony from the Yacht Club, while the St John Chaplain performed a blessing on board the marine ambulance.
Thanks to Element Films for this short video of the evening.
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.
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.
Ambulance subscription renewals for 2025 and new memberships can now be paid for at any Guernsey Post branch. Details of the 2025 subscription costs and ambulance charges are listed below. Anyone with an existing direct debit does not need to take any action as existing direct debits will automatically be renewed.
Ambulance and Rescue Finance Director Simon Gardiner said: “We are delighted to be working with Guernsey Post to make it easier for people to take out or renew a subscription. Together with the option of online payments, which we introduced a few years ago, working with Guernsey Post means there are now more ways to pay, making it more accessible for islanders. This is particularly important this year as we want to reduce the number of people visiting the ambulance station, while building work is carried out.”
Dawn Gallienne, Head of Corporate Engagement at Guernsey Post said: “We are delighted to collaborate with St John Ambulance to offer our customers a convenient way to renew their ambulance subscription at our post office counters. This partnership aligns with our commitment to supporting the community and ensuring essential services are easily accessible to everyone in Guernsey”
Simon Gardiner added: “Having an annual subscription, which cost £68 for adults, provides peace of mind for members and avoids a bill for the full cost of an ambulance. We annually review our subscription scheme prices and charges, and while many of the costs associated with running an ambulance service continue to rise we have kept the increase in subscriptions and fees to a minimum, as we remain committed to providing high quality care and accessible emergency medical services.”
St John provides the ambulance service on behalf of the States of Guernsey through a grant from the Committee for Health & Social Care. The grant is a contribution towards the operating costs of the service, with the remaining costs being met in a variety of ways including the subscription scheme and charges.
Ambulances in Guernsey are not free, but the annual ambulance subscription provides peace of mind in the unfortunate event of someone needing an ambulance. The scheme is available to join irrespective of your age or any pre-existing medical conditions. Anyone without a subscription will be charged for an ambulance attendance, which could be up to £562.
Adult subscriptions cost £68 per year, the equivalent of 19p a day. 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 ten non-emergency patient transfers; up to five Flying Christine marine ambulance transfers.
Should an individual reach the allotted number of transfers within their membership period, they will have the option to purchase a top-up to the subscription. Top-ups are at an increased rate and subject to a maximum of two in any one year, which is still less than the cost of an ambulance without a subscription.
Renewal payments and new memberships can be made by debit card, cheque and cash in person at Guernsey Post locations from Monday 4th November.
Payments can also be made by card on the subscription portal via www.ambulance.gg.
The ambulance service will also be visiting a number of community centers, residential homes and other venues in the coming months to raise awareness of the subscription scheme and give people an opportunity to join the scheme. However, these desks cannot accept cash. Further details of these events will be publicised later.
Due to building works currently underway at the Ambulance Station, visitors are encouraged to use the Guernsey Post branches rather than visiting the Rohais. However, cheques can also be sent in the post to St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, Rohais, St Peter Port, GY1 1YN.
Renewal emails and letters for existing members are being sent out this month. Anyone with an existing direct debit will be automatically renewed and therefore they do not need to take any action unless their details have changed or they wish to cancel.
6% of the cases in 2023 were to immediately life-threatening Category One calls.
In addition, the Non-emergency Patient Transfer Service (NEPTS) also responded to 3031 non-emergency transfers in 2023, a 5% increase on 2022. The operational hours for NEPTS has changed during the past 12 months to meet the increasing demands on the service from Health & Social Care.
The busiest month of the year was December with 637 emergency cases attended by the service. However, the busiest day was in May when ambulance crews responded to 36 cases in 24 hours, 90% more than the average of 19 cases a day. There were also spikes in daily demand in April and December.
Head of Operations Dean de la Mare said: “Overall our demand in 2023 was up slightly, but very similar to the previous year. St John Ambulance and Rescue Service has been proactive in raising awareness of calling 999, how calls are triaged and alternative care options, such as pharmacy and GPs. The figures demonstrate that demand is not constant, it can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. There were occasions when we experienced short periods of exceptional demand, with all of the ambulance crews committed. We have contingency plans for these circumstances with additional off-duty staff called back to work and senior officers deployed to maintain cover for emergency cases.”
The quietest day of the year was 2nd November, the day of Storm Ciaran, when there were just 4 calls in 24 hours. This followed proactive public service messaging asking people to stay indoors during the storm.
Mr de la Mare added: “St John Ambulance & Rescue Service always responds to the most life-threatening of calls as a matter of priority, but not all 999 calls need an immediate blue light response. The Joint Emergency Services Control Centre (JESCC) uses a world-class clinical triage system which quickly identifies the most serious and life-threatening cases, and the nearest ambulance resource will be dispatched. For less urgent cases the target response time can be up to 2 hours.”
The Ambulance and Rescue Service is also supported by volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs) who are trained and equipped to respond to life-threatening incidents in their immediate vicinity in the minutes before an ambulance arrives. In 2023 CFRs attended 43 clinically appropriate cases.
Not everyone who calls an emergency ambulance requires conveyance to hospital, where it is safe and appropriate patients can be discharged on scene, following assessment and treatment by clinicians. In 2023 just over a quarter of patients (26.5%) were discharged on scene following assessment by ambulance clinicians.
In 2023 St John Ambulance and Rescue Service began operating the ambulance service for Alderney, supported the community of Sark with paramedic cover while the island doctor was on leave and proving paramedics for public events, including the Island Games.
