Guernsey’s ambulance service responded to 34 cases in 24 hours on Saturday, making it one of the busiest days in the history of St John Ambulance & Rescue.

Demand peaked during the morning as the service recieved 11 calls in 3 hours, between 8am and 11am. On average the service responds to around 18 calls a day.

6 off-duty staff were called back into work on Saturday to maintain emergency cover and resilience for the island.

Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Mapp thanked the crews who were on duty and those who returned to work. “We operate a voluntary call back system where off-duty staff make themselves available to return to work at times of high demand. I am grateful to the staff who responded at the weekend.”

Saturday also marked the first day for the new Alderney Ambulance Service, which is operated as a satellite of the Guernsey service under the leadership, oversight and governance of Guernsey’s St John Ambulance & Rescue. Over the weekend the Alderney crews responded to 4 cases.

Mark Mapp visited Alderney on Saturday to wish the new staff success. He also acknowledged the “absolutely fantastic and dedicated workforce of the emergency ambulance service in Guernsey who have supported their Alderney colleagues and friends over the past three months, as well as partner organisations in Alderney who have helped and supported the new Emergency Ambulance Service.”

In addition to responding to a high number of medical emergencies, clinicians were also on duty at the Vazon Sprint and Guernsey Marathon.