Alderney ambulance 'needs volunteers', says chairwoman

Alderney's emergency ambulance services could be under threat unless more volunteer workers are found, said the chairwoman of the St John Ambulance.

Ros Michel said the recent recession had made it harder to recruit and retain volunteer ambulance crews.

She said the St John service in Alderney had no paid staff members.

Ms Michel said staff shortages had left the organisation having to call in support from Guernsey, putting pressure on its limited budget.

She said some local volunteers were reluctant to ask for time off from their jobs, while employers were becoming more reluctant to grant it.

She added that this was largely as a result of the economic downturn, and had left the service operating with two-thirds of the necessary workforce.