Fire and ambulance control rooms merge
EMERGENCY calls to Guernsey Fire & Rescue and St John Ambulance and Rescue are being dealt with from a new joint emergency services control room at the fire station, ahead of a second phase of amalgamations next year.
It is part of a complete overhaul in the way 999 calls are managed in the island.
By March next year, 20 controllers from Fire & Rescue, St John Ambulance, Guernsey Police and Guernsey Coastguard will be based in a purpose-built emergency response centre at the police station.
Claire McKenzie, fire service control manager, said the first phase of amalgamation had got off to a 'fantastic' start.
'It has been hard work, but the benefits cannot be underestimated. Everything will become a lot simpler and more effective.'
Control centre manager Terry Coule said even the initial merger will greatly increase operational effectiveness.
