Year’s Ambulance Subscription Costs Just a Few Months of Netflix
More than a quarter of people who needed an emergency ambulance last year were charged £585 because they were not subscribed to the St John Ambulance scheme. The annual subscription covers:
- 10 non-emergency journeys
- 5 emergency journeys
- 5 marine ambulance journeys
The cost is £71 for adults, £33 for children, and £50 for those over 65. The local ambulance service, not provided by the States, is not free for users.
“Out of 10,000 calls we receive a year, about a quarter of them don’t have the subscription,” said chief ambulance officer Mark Mapp. “When someone has an accident it is unpredictable, but what is predictable is the cost of an ambulance. People have an accident and then are getting over the trauma when they receive a bill through the letterbox which can add trauma to the event.”
Currently, fewer than 10% of islanders hold the subscription. St John Ambulance urges more people to sign up for 2026.
“The idea of the subscription is that everyone who needs one can afford to call an ambulance,” said Mr Mapp. “If you need to sacrifice a subscription this year, don’t let it be this one. This is one subscription you can’t do without. It’s only the cost of a few months’ Netflix. My advice would be to spend your money on your health.”
About 50% of subscribers are older adults, but Mr Mapp encourages people of all ages to get covered.
Summary: Subscribing to St John Ambulance is an affordable way to avoid high emergency ambulance bills, costing less than a few months of popular streaming services.
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