EMERGENCY crews from the Ambulance and Rescue Service are in dispute with management.
They are understood to be unhappy with new working procedures and feel the organisation is now more focused on response times than on patients.
Chief officer Jon Beausire (pictured) confirmed that changes to working arrangements had been made but denied patients were suffering.
‘Nowadays, our initial response to any medical emergency is concentrated on assessing, diagnosing, treating and stabilising the patient rather than just rushing them to hospital,’ he said.
Sources claim the service is trying to deploy vehicles with fewer staff because its service level agreement with the States is based solely on response times.
Paramedics are said to have been sent to emergencies on their own and in some cases have had to wait 20 minutes for an ambulance to become available. In one instance, the station mechanic, who is qualified to drive an ambulance in an emergency but not medically, reportedly attended an emergency with a trainee ambulance crew member.
Sources said the service was now reluctant for financial reasons to call off-duty staff in to cover busy shifts.
Article posted on 29th December, 2009 - 2.30pm
7 Article Comments
First afrs now ambulance rescue. Just the arsenal boys n girls to jump on the I want 18% band wagon!
Report abuse
Why does Guernsey seem so hell bent on picking up all the bad traits of the UK?
Just because they’ve become slaves to response times in Britain does not mean the same failings have to be replicated here. We’re small enough to do better and we’re small enough to care.
Report abuse
The organisation (management) could well be more focused on response times…or possibly the patients…because it is certainly not focused on their staff!
Report abuse
No worries, I am sure they will hold out for their 18 %.
Report abuse
Sorry but I can’t see anywhere in the report that says they are after a big wage rise, and as they are not a states department what has the 18% got to do with it.
Doug you are right I doubt there is anywhere in Guernsey that the sevice can’t reach within 20 minutes.
Report abuse
Here we go again the sound of prejudiced jerking knee’s is deafening.
Report abuse
Ambulance crews,every bit as important as any other public service,job every bit as dangerous,they deserve every cent they are payed!
And they are always there when needed!
Report abuse