Increase in Bank Holiday call outs for ambulance staff

Wednesday 04 April 2018

A tragic death, an accident, a number of medical cases and falls contributed to an increase in call outs for Guernsey's St John Ambulance and Rescue Service over the 2018 Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

The 62 call outs between Friday 30 March and Monday 2 April 2018 have contributed to an overall increase of 10% in incidents between January and March compared to the first three months of 2017, and a 14% increase compared to the first quarter of 2016.

The St John Emergency Ambulance Service said it experienced "a busy Easter period responding to 62 incidents during the four days of the holiday", with extra staff called in to help on 20 occasions during this period "to cope with the high demand."

These incidents included two serious cases which have already been reported by Express: the death of a man who had been rescued from the sea at St George's Esplanade on Sunday night, and the younger man who was taken to hospital after falling 30 feet at the harbour in the early hours of Friday morning.

The majority of the other cases attended were for medical conditions including: breathing difficulties, diabetic emergencies and elderly people falling, plus calls to people who were intoxicated. Five medical charter flights were needed over the Easter weekend, with the ambulance service also being used to convey patients to or from the airport. 

Pictured: Chief Ambulance Officer, Ali Marquis

The service said the high number of calls over the Easter weekend has come at the end of a busy first three months of 2018. The first quarter of this year has seen "a steady increase in demand for the service" equalling an increase of 10% in incidents for the corresponding period in 2017 and an almost 14% increase from 2016.

Chief Officer Ali Marquis has thanked the St John Emergency Ambulance Service staff and volunteers for "their dedication during this busy period" and also extended her thanks to their families for their support during the holidays.