Guernsey hosts 'essential' ambulance meeting

Attendees experienced a tour of the Guernsey Marine Ambulance, the Flying Christine III

An "essential" meeting of various ambulance services was a "resounding success" and will help them work together across the islands, bosses say.

Earlier in August, Guernsey hosted the annual two-day Islands Ambulance Service Forum.

It is made up of ambulance services in Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man, the Isle of Wight and Gibraltar.

Mark Mapp, chief officer of Guernsey's Ambulance Service, said: "It is crucial to discuss shared challenges, potential opportunities, and pressing issues across the islands' ambulance services."

'Diverse nature'

They meet virtually throughout the year and come together for an annual face-to-face meeting.

During the two days the group visited Sark, "home to a purely volunteer-based ambulance service, which operates a tractor-drawn ambulance trailer", Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey said.

It added the visit "highlighted the challenges faced in smaller and more remote communities".

"Attendees also experienced a tour of the Guernsey Marine Ambulance, Flying Christine III, showing the diverse nature of emergency medical services across the islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey," the service said.

Mr Mapp said: "Despite each island having unique characteristics, the forum underscores the commonalities and challenges, fostering collaborative discussions and collective strategic thinking."