Guernsey’s St John Ambulance & Rescue Service (SJARS) is making final preparations to begin running the ambulance service in Alderney from 1st April 2023.
SJARS has recruited four new employees from the local community in Alderney and has been working with the States of Alderney and the Committee for Health and Social Care to put plans and policies in place for the new model of ambulance provision.
It follows the announcement made by the States of Alderney in October 2022, when it was agreed that SJARS would be commissioned to take operational responsibility of the ambulance service in Alderney from the start of April 2023.
Until St John Ambulance & Rescue Service assumes operational responsibility for the new service in April, the Alderney ambulance service is currently staffed by agency personnel from a UK based independent ambulance provider, commissioned by and reporting to the States of Alderney
Four new staff members, who will be employed by St John Ambulance & Rescue Service Guernsey as Emergency Ambulance Crew, they all Alderney residents and some have had an involvement with the ambulance service in Alderney in the past. The new team has been undergoing a programme of clinical and driver training, both in Alderney and Guernsey. The Alderney crews will be supported by experienced clinicians from Guernsey to complete their training, with ongoing support, leadership and oversight provided by senior staff in Guernsey.
Aimee Lihou, Head of Quality & Patient Safety said: “The Alderney staff are nearing the completion of their initial training and have been gaining valuable on the road experience with clinicians in Guernsey, which has given them exposure to a range of medical and trauma cases. When they first become operational in Alderney they will initially be supported by a member of Guernsey staff who will be stationed temporarily in Alderney, then as part of the new model for the Alderney ambulance service, we will give ongoing support with oversight from Guernsey. The crews will have 24/7 access by phone to senior ambulance clinicians based in Guernsey, as well as access to Alderney’s Island Medical Centre.”
The Alderney ambulance service will operate as an extension of the Guernsey service, under the clinical governance framework and leadership of the St John Ambulance & Rescue Service with training and development opportunities aligned to the Guernsey operation.