New Chief Officer Jon Beausire.

DEVELOPING alternative call-response methods is a priority for the new chief ambulance officer.
Jon Beausire joined St John Ambulance and Rescue Service in 1986.
He said some future responses to emergency calls might involve a car and a single paramedic rather than a large ambulance and crew.
‘Some emergencies require a small team of ambulance professionals – a cliff rescue, for example – while others will require just one person suitably trained and equipped,’ he said.
Mr Beausire, 50, is married to Jane and has four sons and a grandson.
He said his new role was about driving changes that would support the service’s staff and be of benefit to patients in its care.
Changes to pre-hospital health care in Guernsey and the UK are currently being monitored. An ageing population and an increase in long-term medical conditions are putting pressure on the ambulance service and the wider health-care community.
‘There’s a trend nowadays to want to keep people out of hospital, which means that health carers and the ambulance service are looking to take the treatment to the patient rather than the other way around,’ he said.
The public perception of the organisation is predominantly of a transport service with white vans with two people in and blue flashing lights, said Mr Beausire, but it has become far more complex and training levels are continually rising.
‘Nowadays we diagnose medical conditions, treat symptoms or injuries and stabilise patients and only then do we consider how we will transfer them.’
Paramedics have recently been cleared to administer five additional drugs, taking the total to 27. These range from pain relief to treatment for someone whose heart has stopped.
Mr Beausire said he was proud to be in his new job.
‘What matters most to me is the service, its staff and the patients,’ he said. ‘I’m fortunate to have staff who are committed and professional and dedicated to providing a high standard of treatment and care.’
One of the main challenges was funding, he said, particularly in the present financial climate, and, like any other organisation, the service could do with more money.
‘We are not a States department or even part of one and the grant we get from Health and Social Services funds only 70% of the running costs of our road ambulances. It doesn’t cover any rescue or specialist services or the provision of paramedics and we rely totally on charitable donations or bequests for the rest.’
Mr Beausire said he believed the organisation was lean and efficient and would stand up to scrutiny.
‘We are very grateful for the public support we do receive, without which we would have difficulty in providing the marine ambulance, rescue services or paramedics,’ he said.