Survey shows strong support for Emergency Ambulance Service
Posted: May 25, 2022
In 2021 the St John Emergency Ambulance Service responded to almost seven thousand calls, which represents an 18% increase from 2020 and continues a growing trend over recent years, with 48% more calls in 2021 than in 2015. Last year was also the first time in the eighty-five year history of the ambulance service that it has exceeded six thousand calls in a single year.
Head of Operations, Dean de la Mare said: “We want islanders to be reassured that if you need an ambulance, you will get one – and for life threatening illnesses or injuries, which are the most urgent and highest category of call, you will get an immediate response and the ambulance will come with lights and sirens. 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 Three is for urgent calls which include diabetes, faints and uninjured patients who have fallen. We aim to reach these calls within 30 minutes of being alerted.
Category Four is for less urgent calls such as patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting or a urinary infection, for which we aim to attend within 2 hours.
The triage system for prioritising calls is an internationally recognised system which has now been in place for several years in Guernsey and works efficiently and safely. When you call 999 the operator at the Joint Emergency Service Control Centre (JESCC) will ask a series of questions to determine the seriousness of the call. Life threatening calls will be identified immediately and the closest resource will be dispatched straight away. The ambulance service in Guernsey also operates a Community First Responders scheme and Co-responders scheme, so trained and equipped responders who are in the area may arrive in the minutes before the ambulance arrives to provide prompt life-saving treatment.
Guernsey’s Chief Ambulance Officer and
long-time member of St John Ambulance
Guernsey has been admitted into the Most
Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of
Jerusalem. Mark Mapp becomes an Officer of
the Order of St John.
In 2021 the St John Emergency Ambulance Service responded to almost seven thousand calls, which represents an 18% increase from 2020 and continues a growing trend over recent years, with 48% more calls in 2021 than in 2015. Last year was also the first time in the eighty-five year history of the ambulance service that it has exceeded six thousand calls in a single year.
Head of Operations, Dean de la Mare said: “We want islanders to be reassured that if you need an ambulance, you will get one – and for life threatening illnesses or injuries, which are the most urgent and highest category of call, you will get an immediate response and the ambulance will come with lights and sirens. 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.”
As well as working in a full-time role with ambulance service, Mark has also held many roles within the St John charity, including as Senior Volunteer Officer and Deputy Commissioner of the voluntary section.
During his professional career Mark worked on the Patient Transfer Service, as an Emergency Medical Technician and member of the Cliff Rescue and Inshore Rescue Boat team, before qualifying as a paramedic and later a trainer. He also had a brief spell working for the NHS in the UK as well as nine years working in various roles for HSC with the States of Guernsey.
Mark returned to the Emergency Ambulance Service in 2019 and was appointed as Chief Ambulance Officer in April of that year, leading the service through the Covid-19 pandemic and working with the States of Guernsey to transform and develop the service for the future. Mark is a member of the St John Guernsey Executive Committee and sits on the boards of the St John charity and St John Commercial Services. In addition to his leadership commitments Mark maintains his paramedic skills and still responds to medical emergencies as a clinician, as well as volunteering as a Community First Responder with St John.
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem – commonly known as the Order of St John – has its roots in a hospice in Jerusalem in the 11th century. Today the international charity provides health care and support in more than forty countries through a dedicated team of around 250,000 volunteers and staff.
An individual can be admitted to the order for outstanding service to St John in recognition of achievement, notable or selfless service or inspiration and encouragement to others. There are five Grades of membership Member, Officer, Commander, Knight or Dame and Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross.