Guernsey ambulance fees to increase in 2025

It will be more expensive to call out an ambulance in Guernsey in 2025.

The St John Ambulance and Rescue Service's annual subscription scheme will cost £31 for children, £48 for senior citizens, £68 for adults and £157 for Sark residents.

That's an increase of £2 for children and senior citizens, £5 for adults and £8 for Sark residents, while the basic cost to call out an ambulance without subscription has risen from £447 to £471.

St John Ambulance and Rescue finance director Simon Gardiner said costs associated with running the service have contributed to the rise but they have tried to keep fees to a minimum.

The increase in 2025 means the cost of calling out an ambulance without a subscription has risen by £100 in five years, from £371 in 2020, which is in line with inflation.

The cost of an adult subscription has increased by £33 from £35 to £68 in the same time period.

Mr Gardiner said: "We annually review our subscription scheme prices and charges, and while many of the costs associated with running an ambulance service continue to rise we have kept the increase in subscriptions and fees to a minimum.

"We remain committed to providing high quality care and accessible emergency medical services.”

The ambulance service is provided on behalf of the States of Guernsey through a grant from the Committee for Health and Social Care.

St John as a charity, has to make up the remainder of the costs through the subscription scheme or charges.

From 2025, people wanting to join the subscription service will be able to do so from any Guernsey Post branch.

Mr Gardiner said working with Guernsey Post means the subscription service is now more "accessible" for islanders.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to [email protected].