New ambulance ready to go

Thursday 25 July 2019

St John have taken delivery of their new ambulance, after the public helped to raise money for its purchase.

The new vehicle is now operational and has already been deployed to medical emergencies around the island.

A fundraising campaign for the new ambulance was launched in December 2017 and saw local businesses, groups and individuals help raise money through a variety of initiatives, including cake sales, school events, concerts and dress down days. Money was also raised through a concert at St James and a CPR marathon organised by the ambulance service.

Pictured: Mark Mapp. 

Chief Ambulance Officer, Mark Mapp, said: “I would like to thank everyone who has helped with the fundraising or made a donation to the appeal, be it large or small.

"The new ambulance will help the emergency ambulance service continue to take the highest standard of emergency medical care to our community, providing clinicians with the best working environment and our patients with the comfort and safety during their treatment and for their journey to hospital."

The official launch of the new ambulance will take place at the 2019 West Show on Wednesday 14 August. Where the public will have a chance to take a tour of the ambulance with clinicians from the emergency ambulance service. It will also be on display at the North Show the following week.

The new ambulance replaces a previous vehicle which was more than 12 years old. It is based on the Mercedes/WAS UK ambulance design and has been adapted for Guernsey. It is now kitted with the latest diagnostic and treatment equipment and will be a mobile medical treatment centre crewed by qualified clinicians, allowing paramedics to carry out advanced life-saving procedures in the pre-hospital emergency medical environment.

The St John Emergency Ambulance Service runs a fleet of five ambulances and three rapid response cars, as well as patient transfer service vehicles.

Pictured top: St John's new ambulance.