The demand on Guernsey’s ambulance service has continued during the last few months with the St John Emergency Ambulance Service having now received more than five thousand calls so far in 2018.

As reported earlier this year, demand peaked in March, with five hundred and thirty-one calls during the month. October was the second busiest month so far, with five hundred and eleven calls. Every other month has accounted for more than four hundred calls. With a month to go until the end of the year, there have been around one thousand four hundred calls for “Priority One” immediately life threatening cases. 2018 started with an increase in demand, partly as a result of winter pressures. Falls have also continued to account for a high number of calls through the year.

During time of high demand extra staff have been called back to work to help maintain resilience under a voluntary arrangement.

In the whole of 2017 the service responded to less than four thousand nine hundred calls, while in 2016 less than four thousand calls were recorded across the year.

Chief Officer, Ali Marquis said. “Demand for the service has continued to grow. However I am pleased that we have been able to continue to provide the high standards of care that islanders have rightly come to expect from the Emergency Ambulance Service. I would like to thank all the staff who have worked hard to maintain the service during these busy periods. I would also like to thank their families who have allowed them to return to work at weekends and in the middle of the night to respond to emergencies.”