Alderney ambulance staff go on strike
ST JOHN staff are in Alderney covering medical cases as members of the Alderney Ambulance Service are not at work in protest of the unfair dismissal of the former chief ambulance officer.
Following a meeting with the board of directors yesterday, the chief officer Mel Walden was sacked.
'There was a decision made on the basis of inaccurate information which we are trying to resolve,' Ms Walden said.
'I was sacked with no explanation or information but I am hopeful it will be resolved - the ambulance crew are meeting this evening to see if anything can be progressed.'
After 30 years in the service and more than 15 years as chief ambulance officer, Ms Walden said she was devastated to see what was unfolding in front of her and the crew as a result of 'political matters'.
'The crew is wonderful and very dedicated, they want to have this resolved quickly so they can get back to work.'
A team is responding to 999 calls on the island.
St John Ambulance Guernsey received a request from the Alderney Ambulance Service board of directors to temporarily provide ambulance cover in Alderney.
'Staff from the emergency ambulance service will be travelling to Alderney and will be on duty to respond to ambulance calls.'
The Alderney Ambulance Service is an independent organisation and is not affiliated to St John.
No Alderney Ambulance staff are working today. They waited until St John staff arrived in the island at 8am before going home.
Ms Walden said: 'If it took longer for Guernsey staff to arrive the Alderney crew would have stayed on, at no point have Alderney residents been put at risk.'
