Emergency Care
IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY CALL 07781 100 815
If there is no answer from this number, please try again or call 999. Please do not use this number for routine calls to the surgery.
Sark Medical Officer
The Sark Medical Officer, Dr Peter Counsell, is on call 24 hours a day for medical emergencies. There is only one doctor working on the island and in the case of more than one emergency occuring simultaneously, casualties will be treated on the basis of clinical need, not necessarily on the time of presentation. On rare occasions it may be necessary to cancel a scheduled surgery when an emergency arises. In this event we will do our best to inform those who have booked appointments.
For further information on emergency medical care on Sark, please see the medical emergency response processes described here (pdf). The Helicopter Emergency Medical Evacuation Procedure can be found here (pdf).
Sark Ambulance Service
The Ambulance Service is run by volunteers under the command of Mr David Melling and Mr Richard Knight. The ambulance crew are on call 24 hours a day and can be quite busy, especially in the Summer months. Ambulance and Fire crews attend first aid and resuscitation training on a regular basis. Click here to see the Sark Ambulance Service page.
Sark Fire and Rescue Service
The Fire and Rescue Service is also run by volunteers under the command of Mr Kevin Adams. The service trains regularly in firefighting, cliff rescue and searching for missing persons. The Fire crew also have first aid training and many have progressed to further qualifications in resuscitation including the use of defibrillators and medical oxygen. Please visit sarkfireservice.org.gg for more information.
Guernsey ambulance and rescue service
In the event that an individual requires transfer to hospital for furhter treatment, Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service are asked to assist. Patients are transferred by their fully trained paramedics using the Marine Ambulance or other suitable transport.
There is a new Marine Ambulance Subscription Scheme which helps raise funds for the ongoing provision of this vital service. Please click here for an application form for the Marine Ambulance Subscription Scheme.
Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service is a Guernsey-based charitable company which operates, with the authority of the States of Guernsey, the Island's only ambulance service. It operates 24 hours a day, providing accident and emergency cover and paramedic response. As well as a non-emergency patient transport service.
You can find out more about Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue Service and the Flying Christine III here.
Resuscitation
We now have 4 defibrillators on the island. One is in the posession of the Medical Officer at the Surgery, another travels with the Fire crew on emergencies, a third is located at the island hall and a fourth is at Maslin Harbour (in the telephone box) for immediate use by competent persons. In the event of a heart attack, we also have a 'clot-busting' medication available which can be used if it is indicated (given by the doctor only).