Paramedic Station Officer Sonia Guille and Emergency Medical Technician Greg Martin have both been put forward in the Emergency Hero of the Year category of the Guernsey Press ‘Pride of Guernsey Awards.

Greg Martin, who has only recently completed his training, is described as a highly motivated member of staff who is greatly appreciated by patients. St John Emergency Ambulance Service chief officer Ali Marquis said. ‘Greg is professional and caring in his treatment of patients and as a result he is highly appreciated by the islanders he has helped,’ she said.

‘During 2017 Greg received the highest number of letters of thanks and appreciations from patients. He is regularly complimented on his kindness, sensitivity and professional care. He takes time to explain things to patients and has the knowledge to put things across in comprehensive yet simple way. Some of the words used by patients to describe his work include fantastic, excellent and reassuring. His approach when dealing with end of life care has also been called considerate and compassionate.’
Greg has also been dedicated to his clinical studies, spending hours reading and doing research, Ms Marquis said.

Greg joined the St John Emergency Ambulance Service as an ambulance care assistant working on the patient transport service, taking people to and from hospital for appointments and renal treatment. He then became an emergency care assistant before progressing to the role of EMT. Greg is also a volunteer community first responder, answering life-threatening calls in his vicinity when he is off duty.

Sonia Guille was put forward for the Rossborough Insurance-backed Emergency Hero of the Year award by St John Emergency Ambulance Service chief officer Ali Marquis. She said that Sonia started working for the St John Emergency Ambulance Service in 1994 and later became Guernsey’s first female paramedic.

‘She has attended numerous life-threatening emergencies, medical incidents, falls, road traffic collisions, incidents at sea, cases involving children and traumatic injuries. Like all her fellow paramedics she is highly skilled, professional and caring in her approach. However despite years of experience, Sonia had never delivered a baby until a few months ago.’

Earlier this year Sonia was woken from her sleep in the early hours and called into work. ‘It was a busy time when all the on-duty crews were already dealing with incidents,’ Ms Marquis said. ‘Sonia was dispatched to a mother in the late stages of labour. She responded alone in a car while another clinician followed in an ambulance. Sonia was first on scene and delivered the baby on her own, within minutes of arriving at the house and before a midwife arrived. Sonia looked after the mother and baby until ambulance colleagues and midwife arrived to assist.’

‘During the past 12 months Sonia has received a number of messages of thanks from patients, including appreciations for her prompt and professional care, excellent treatment and reassuring and considerate manner.’

(Words and pictures courtesy of the Guernsey Press)