5,000 calls so far this year for ambulances

Thursday 06 December 2018

Guernsey's ambulance staff have been dealing with an average of 15 calls a day so far this year, with continuing high levels of demand for emergency assistance ahead of Christmas.

In total, during the first 11 months of 2018, the blue light service has received 5,000 calls with extra staff sometimes being called in to work to help out under a voluntary agreement they have in place.

In a statement, the ambulance service said "the demand...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."

This compares to fewer than 4,900 calls during the whole of 2017 and fewer than 4,000 throughout the whole of 2016. 

Pictured: St John Emergency Ambulance Service has seen a high number of calls throughout 2018 so far, before we even reach the usually busy Christmas period. 

There was a peak in call numbers in March 2018, with 531 calls during just that month alone, with October also being exceptionally busy with 511 calls. But during every other month this year there were more than four hundred calls.

They haven't all been of an emergency nature though, with around 1,400 calls designated 'Priority One' which means an 'immediately life threatening case."

Pictured: One of many emergency call outs attended by Guernsey's emergency ambulance team during 2018. 

The SJEA said 2018 started with an increase in demand, which staff put partly down to the 'winter pressures' which were reported at the time including a high number of patients suffering severe cold and flu like symptoms. There's also been a high number of call outs this year due to falls.

Pictured: Ali Marquis, Chief Officer, St John Emergency Ambulance Service. 

With staff working extra hours, and being called in while on leave or days off, they've all been praised for their efforts ahead of what could be a busy end to the year.

Along with the usual winter pressures, the Christmas party season is getting underway. Chief Officer, Ali Marquis said all staff have helped maintain the service so far this year and will continue to do so.

“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.”

Pictured: Guernsey's St John Emergency Ambulance Service has seen a high number of call outs so far this year.