Ambulance chief is ousted in merger
A COMPLETE reorganisation of the local St John organisation has seen the chief ambulance officer and the deputy chief ambulance officer both leave their jobs to be replaced by candidates with more medical experience.
The board members for St John Ambulance & Rescue Services and St John Guernsey have also resigned, to make way for a new combined board for the new St John Ambulance Guernsey organisation.
The aim is to end confusion and duplication of resources by combining the emergency service and voluntary and charitable service.
New board chairman Roy Tilleard said he could not go into details about the loss of former chief ambulance officer Ali Marquis and former deputy chief ambulance officer Joel de Woolfson. It is understood Mr de Woolfson resigned.
Mr Tilleard said he was concerned about having staff without paramedic and medical experience in such senior roles.
‘We need people who have experience at the coalface,’ he said.
Ms Marquis was appointed to her post in March 2018, after joining the ambulance service in 2006. She had previously worked as a civil servant and in human resources. Mr de Woolfson took up his role only in January, having previously worked as the States’ senior communications officer.
They have been replaced by paramedic Mark Mapp, as chief ambulance officer, and Dean de la Mare, who has extensive paramedic experience, as his deputy.
No further job losses are expected and the ambulance service is unaffected by the changes. Mr Tilleard said it was very important to have more medical experience on the board. This was why Mr Mapp had joined the board, along with two doctors – A&E doctor Neil Robinson and emergency department consultant Dr Aruni Sen.
The board is rounded off with Jurat David Hodgetts, who will focus on donations, and experienced St John member Judy Moore.
Mr Tilleard has lived in Guernsey for four years, but has extensive experience in business. While he has no experience in medicine, he has worked in industry. He took on his post two weeks ago.
‘I’ve got completely fresh eyes,’ he said.
The changes follow a review which started a year ago and ended at the end of 2018, which recommended the two services be merged. Mr Tilleard said he did not know what had sparked that review. He denied that the changes were about saving money.
‘Natural efficiencies will come out of the merger and naturally there will be some savings,’ he said.
‘But this is not cost driven.’
It is hoped that the merger will help people understand St John’s activities better, enhance career development for staff and volunteers, strengthen the relationship between the organisation and the States of Guernsey.
St John’s traditional values - of faith and service to mankind - will still be the basis of the organisation.
Mr Tilleard has already instigated four reviews into the service - these will look at the whole organisation, the medical resources and performance, the ambulance operation and the IT and infrastructure provision.
It is hoped these will be complete within the next three to six months.
Mr Tilleard said he wanted ensure that the services money - of which 30% comes from donations and the rest from Health & Social Care - was spent effectively.
Since he has been in post, a new pay deal has been agreed at St John, although he would not go into detail.
