Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey is warning that more than a quarter of people who needed an ambulance last year didn’t have cover to pay for it.
With an ambulance call out now costing just under £600, the service is urging people to instead pay £71 per year for an ambulance subscription.
The annual fee – or £6 per month – covers one adult. There is a £50 charge for pensioners and a £33 fee for children.
The price has risen £3 for adults and £2 for seniors and children compared to 2025’s price.
The subscription covers emergency ambulance call outs, ambulance transfers, and the Flying Christine if it’s needed when you’re visiting the other islands.
Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Mapp said the annual charge can cover more than £15,000 worth of care if needed. He also pointed out that the monthly charge is similar to what an adult might pay for a Netflix subscription.
“No one can promise you aren’t going to have an accident or medical incident next year, but what we can tell you is that the cost of calling an ambulance is £585,” explained Chief Officer Mapp.
“If you’re in Herm and need the Flying Christine, that would be £647 or in Sark, £2,420. That’s money most people don’t have readily available and that is added stress after an accident. That’s why we have this subscription service, to ensure that if you need an ambulance you don’t have to worry about finding the money. It’s just another way we help care for the community – our message really is subscribe and save.
“It’s also entirely possible you won’t have just one accident or medical incident, and many people need us several times. Those bills are going to add up and for just £1.37 a week, you can prevent that bill shock.
“It’s the odd position of asking you to pay for a service you hope never to use. We hope you don’t need to use us either, but if you do, it’s far better for your wallet that this subscription is one you’ve taken out. In total the monetary value of the subscription is more than £15,000 worth of care for just £71. Most people assume they won’t need a single ambulance call out, but what if you or your family need more? Really this subscription is the only way to ensure you don’t end up with a large bill.
“It’s the same as a few months worth of Netflix. We respond to 7000 emergency call outs every single year and the truth is: you could be one of them. When you add in patient transfers that increases to 10,000 callouts. It’s important to note that a lot of what we do isn’t just emergencies and that one medical incident often results in multiple ambulance transfers after that initial call. Please have a conversation in your household about whether you can afford to not be covered.”
To join the subscription scheme, visit ambulance.gg/charges-subscriptions, or visit a Guernsey Post branch.
Anyone with an existing direct debit for their annual ambulance subscription will have theirs automatically renewed.
Anyone who has previously paid their subscription annually will be sent a reminder.
“It’s a service you hope never to need, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have it,” added Mr Mapp.