St John Ambulance and Rescue Service to Increase Charges in Guernsey for 2025

The cost of ambulance services in Guernsey is set to rise in 2025. The St John Ambulance and Rescue Service has announced new annual subscription rates: £31 for children, £48 for senior citizens, £68 for adults, and £157 for Sark residents. These figures represent an increase of £2 for children and senior citizens, £5 for adults, and £8 for Sark residents. Furthermore, the standard fee for an ambulance call-out without a subscription will increase from £447 to £471. Simon Gardiner, finance director for St John Ambulance and Rescue, attributed the price adjustments to the operational expenses of the service, stating efforts were made to minimize the fee hikes. The 2025 increase brings the non-subscription ambulance call-out charge to a total rise of £100 over five years, up from £371 in 2020, a change described as being consistent with inflation. Over the same five-year period, the adult subscription cost has seen an increase of £33, moving from £35 to £68. Mr. Gardiner commented: “We annually review our subscription scheme prices and charges, and while many of the costs associated with running an ambulance service continue to rise we have kept the increase in subscriptions and fees to a minimum. “We remain committed to providing high quality care and accessible emergency medical services.” The ambulance service is delivered to the community on behalf of the States of Guernsey, supported by a grant from the Committee for Health and Social Care. As a charitable organization, St John must cover its remaining operational expenses through its subscription program or direct charges. Beginning in 2025, individuals wishing to enroll in the subscription service will have the option to do so at any Guernsey Post branch. Mr. Gardiner noted that this collaboration with Guernsey Post enhances the “accessibility” of the subscription service for island residents. For updates, follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Story submissions can be sent to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.