A CLOUD of uncertainty hangs over the future of Alderney's Ambulance Service after attempts to resolve a bitter week-old dispute ended in deadlock.
The States have had to step in to ensure the safety of the Island after volunteer crews walked out following the shock removal of Chief Ambulance Officer (CAO) Mel Walden in the wake of a damning review commissioned jointly by the Ambulance Board and the States.
Steps are also to be taken to establish a new ambulance service and volunteers, who wish to serve the community are being sought to offer their support.
Temporary emergency cover had to be drafted in by the St John Ambulance Service in Guernsey after the dispute erupted, but they are due to leave tomorrow and the crisis has deepened amid claims and counter claims and the breakdown of negotiations
A stalemate was reached when the ambulance crews demanded the re-instatement of the CAO and the resignation of Ambulance Service Board Chairman Les Stewart.
Both of those demands were refused and all of the Board Members then resigned, claiming in an official statement that the decision by the crews has "placed Alderney in a critical position" and that the Ambulance Service "can no longer commit to the provision of the appropriate safe and sustainable standards."
Points raised in the critical review produced by Richard Webber include claims that the Ambulance Service acted in an unsafe manner with pieces of life-saving equipment which do not work, others which are past their recommended service date and some beyond the scope of practice of an Ambulance Technician.
The Journal, however, understands there have also been growing concerns that several recommendations contained in a previous review several years ago have not been implemented.
But in correspondence to Mr Stewart the ambulance crew refuted claims that Alderney Ambulance has operated unsafely and that the Chief Ambulance Officer should be suspended and added: "Whilst we accept that there have been areas requiring improvement, the vast majority of these have been rectified since August and others, identified by Richard Webber, are in progress and added: "We utterly refute the allegations that the service has been unsafe and that the suspension of the CAO is warranted."
Just before the Journal went to press, the States issued a statement which said: "The States of Alderney considers that this situation is unacceptable and that these issues are of the highest importance in ensuring the safety of the island."
The statement also assured Islanders that the assistance of the St John's Ambulance in Guernsey and other key stakeholders will be sought in helping to put a safe and viable ambulance service in place for the short term.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors.
The Guernsey Bereavement Service has made three visits to Alderney over the past few months and would like to continue to help you. We are visiting the island again on
Tuesday, 23rd February 2024 and would invite anyone who feels they would like Bereavement Counselling to telephone the Bereavement Service Office on 257778 to make a time to meet one of our counsellors. 