On Wednesday, 8 July 2026, the Health and Social Care Portfolio marked International Paramedics Day, recognising the contribution of paramedics across the world.
This year’s theme was Innovate & Integrate. For St Helena, this reflects the way the Ambulance Service works as part of the island’s wider urgent, emergency and pre-hospital healthcare system.
The Ambulance Service provides a 24-hour, 365-day emergency response for the community. The team responds to life-threatening emergencies, supports urgent care, provides pre-hospital assessment and treatment, assists with patient transport, and works closely with colleagues across the General Hospital, Emergency Department, community services, Allied Health Professionals, social care and partner emergency services.
On St Helena, paramedics also work alongside nurses and doctors in the Emergency Department and support outpatient triage clinics. While this differs from many larger healthcare systems, it helps make effective use of clinical skills, supports hospital flow, improves access to urgent assessment, and contributes to a more sustainable service for the community.
The service also supports emergency planning and resilience, including major incident planning, interagency training, event medical cover, and public health response work, including recent activity linked to the island’s Hantavirus response.
Innovation on St Helena is often practical and focused on local need. The Ambulance Service uses innovative digital tools such as GoodSAM and what3words to support accurate location finding, improve emergency response, and help reach patients who need urgent care.
Michael Gaga-Hale, Emergency Operations Manager and Senior Paramedic, said:
“International Paramedics Day gives us the opportunity to recognise the role paramedics play in healthcare, but it also reminds us that safe and effective care is never delivered through individual effort alone.
The progress made by the Ambulance Service on St Helena reflects the work, commitment and support of many people, including the ambulance team, nurses, doctors, Allied Health Professionals, community services, social care, public health, emergency service partners, call handlers, volunteers and wider government colleagues. Each of these teams plays a part in helping us provide care that is responsive, joined up and sustainable for our community. Our achievements depend on people working together with a shared purpose.
As I prepare to leave St Helena to take up a new role, I want to thank my colleagues, partner agencies and the wider community for their support over the past few years. The Ambulance Service we recognise and depend on today has been built through shared effort, trust and commitment. It has been a privilege to play a part in that work and to serve the community during some of its most difficult times.”
This year, the Ambulance Service were unable to hold its annual coffee morning to mark International Paramedics Day with former colleagues, including past ambulance drivers and others who have supported the service over many years. The portfolio recognises and values their contribution to emergency care on St Helena, and hopes that a suitable venue will be available next year for a face-to-face event to recognise their support properly.
The Health and Social Care Portfolio extends its sincere thanks to all ambulance staff, emergency care assistants, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, former ambulance drivers, call handlers, trainers, volunteers and partner agencies who support emergency, urgent and pre-hospital care on St Helena.
For more information about International Paramedics Day go to: www.internationalparamedicsday.com
Photos:
Ambulance Team During A Team Building Exercise
Donated Ambulance Leading The Cancer Carnival Parade 2022
Emergency Care Assistants; (Left To Right) Martin Andrews, Craig Crowie, Carl Thomas, Patronella Mittens-Henry, Julie Brinsden
Ambulance Team Supporting Remembrance Day Memorial Service, 2025
Emergency Care Assistants
International Paramedics Day Coffee Morning, Celebrating With Previous Colleagues And Ambulance Drivers, 2024
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