More than 100 volunteers with St John Ambulance are stepping up and helping to look after the island’s most vulnerable residents.

Some of the work includes back-up ambulance services, community responders and delivering prescriptions.

The volunteer organisation which provides emergency first aid services and medical training is assisting with the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Part of the service St John Ambulance is providing will see it deliver prescriptions from independent pharmacies to residents from April 1.

Chief officer John Gill told the Manx Independent: ’We are working initially with the independent chemists as many of the larger ones have their own delivery services already.’

By working with the smaller pharmacies, it has been possible to coordinate island-wide coverage to deliver prescriptions to those who are isolating but require medicines.

As well as prescriptions, Mr Gill explained that the service is able to assist with front line emergency responses.

He said: ’All our volunteer members who will be doing this have enhanced police checks and personal protection equipment training.

’That equipment is provided to them but in most instances, they won’t come into contact with vulnerable people themselves, but if and when they need to use it, the PPE is there.’

Mr Gill added that anyone who needs assistance with their prescriptions should contact their regular pharmacists who will coordinate with St John Ambulance and arrange for deliveries to be made.

St John Ambulance has also put a temporary freeze on all public courses from Monday, March 30.

Lynda Osborne, commandery executive pfficer at St John Ambulance Isle of Man added: ’We recognise we are in a fast-moving situation here on the island and it is imperative that we reallocate the necessary resources, to support both the vulnerable in our community and the emergency services.’