The independent review was carried out by the UK’s Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE). The AACE was asked to assess the effectiveness of the service.
The review was commissioned by the States of Alderney during the autumn of this year after the States took control of the Ambulance Service early last year.
The Service was previously run by a volunteer group. That stopped after a critical report found they were using equipment which was outdated and poorly maintained and that there was a lack of clinical expertise in management.
Pictured: Alderney’s ambulance fleet prior to the service being taken over by the States.
Following the takeover of the Ambulance Service by the States of Alderney, it has been run by paid paramedic Al McLean, who manages eleven volunteers.
Boyd Kelly, Chairman of the States of Alderney’s General Services Committee, said it has now agreed unanimously to adopt all of the recommendations made in the AACE report.
The AACE’s recommendations have not yet been published, but Mr Kelly said that adopting them would improve the service.
“We are indebted to Al McLean and the volunteers for their dedication and commitment,” said Mr Kelly.
“The civil service and elected members obviously appreciate the importance of the Service and the strain it is currently under, especially with the additional demands of specialist training. The service has my full support and we are discussing with the team how to implement the recommendations.
“I regret that it has taken so long for the independent review to take place. However, having received the report, the General Services Committee unanimously agreed to accept all of the recommendations, a decision echoed by the Policy & Finance Committee.”
Pictured: Boyd Kelly, Chairman of Alderney’s General Services Committee, which is backing all of the recommendations in an independent report on the States-run Ambulance Service. The recommendations will be published soon.
The AACE’s recommendations will be revealed later this month after publication of the minutes of the General Services Committee. The Committee hopes they will be welcomed by people who still have concerns about how the Ambulance Service is being run.
Concerns have been raised with Express about staffing issues at the Service. A source who wishes to remain anonymous claims that the island’s one paramedic is unable to take any time off due to the high level of responsibility placed on him and the demands of his role. Another claim is that volunteers who staff the Service alongside the paid paramedic are on the verge of quitting.
Express was told that the paramedic and all of the volunteers “got a glowing report” from the AACE but that the States had since left things as they are.
It is expected that the States will shortly release more details about the changes to the Service which will start to be made in the new year.