Islanders in Alderney campaign to reinstate 24/7 Medevac services

Channel
Alderney
Guernsey
Health
Friday 17 August 2018 at 5:49am

People in Alderney are calling for a 24 hour medical emergency flight service to be restored.

A petition has been started to try and extend the Medevac hours after the service hours were reduced in June 2017.

Aurigny currently stops flying at 7:30pm with Alderney Lifeboat service stepping in overnight when necessary.

The petition currently has over 300 signatures and calls on the States of Guernsey to restore the round-the-clock service urgently.

WATCH: Sarah Postlethwaite explains why she started the campaign following her own medical concerns in January.

The States of Guernsey have responded saying the majority of medevacs take place during operational hours.

Aurigny has for many years provided the medevac service without a formal contract and a change in the type of aircraft used, and the requirement for the airline to recover its operating costs, led to negotiations to formalise the service. The medevac contract states that Aurigny will continue to provide a medevac service in support of the community of Alderney. As a result, Aurigny will, if necessary for the expeditious transfer of a patient in urgent need, delay or cancel commercial (scheduled) services as needed. Health & Social Care, Employment & Social Security and Policy & Resources have worked with Aurigny to secure the best level of cover that was reasonably possible and for the first time we have a clear and transparent contract that sets out the support available. Aurigny will provide the medevac service under a best endeavours basis between 5.45am-9pm from January to June, and again from September to December (daily except Fridays). Between the months of July and August (and every Friday throughout the year), Aurigny will provide the service from 5.45am-7.30pm. It is important to note that the vast majority of medevacs take place during these operating hours. However, dependable arrangements are in place to ensure alternative transfer options can be utilised at other times if a patient cannot be stabilised ahead of normal service hours and requires medevac. This could include the Leopardess (Sea Fisheries boat), helicopter or marine ambulance. While a 24-hours-a-day air medevac service is understandably desirable for Alderney, the parties involved in the contract negotiation have been unable to find any viable alternative to deliver an around-the-clock service. HSC is working with Economic Development to ensure that consideration is given to patient transfer/medevac between Alderney and Guernsey as part of the Public Service Obligation.