Paramedics are being stabbed, throttled, and sexually assaulted as shameful new figures show assaults on crew members have risen by one THIRD.
About eight serious attacks a day take place on NHS ambulance crews and more than 1,400 homes in England are now red-flagged as “no-go” areas without police protection.
GMB union National Secretary Rehana Azam said: “These terrifying figures underline that Ambulance Workers, along with all those who work in the emergency services, are forced to work under an increased threat of violence”.
Paul Turner GMB Deputy Branch Secretary/Paramedic (NWAS) said “Police just don’t have the resources anymore,” he said. “We are asked to do a risk assessment first but the only way you can do a risk assessment is by finding out what’s on the other side of the door. By then it’s too late.”
Assaults on crew members have soared by 36 per cent in five years. Figures obtained from 10 of England’s 11 ambulance trusts reveal more than 2,800 staff were attacked on duty last year up from just over 2,000 in 2013/14.
Full report https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/violence-stabbings-sex-assaults-ag...
Paramedics are being stabbed, throttled, and sexually assaulted as shameful new figures show assaults on crew members have risen by one THIRD.
About eight serious attacks a day take place
Key Facts on Assaults
14,433 - Reported Physical Assaults on GB ambulance workers since 2012/13 (NHS figures)
8.2 - Reported attacks on ambulance workers a day in Great Britain in 2016/17
20% - Increase in serious violent assaults on health workers reported to the Health and Safety Executive between 2012/13 and 2016/17 (HSE)
21% - Of ambulance workers have taken sick leave due to violent assaults (GMB survey)
34% - Increase in reported physical assaults recorded by Ambulance Trusts between 2013/14 and 2016/17 (NHS figures)
37% - Of ambulance workers have considered leaving their jobs due to the threat of violent attack (GMB survey)
39% - Of ambulance staff have experienced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (GMB survey)
81,669 - Days of sick leave taken by ambulance staff in England due to stress, anxiety, depression and related conditions in 2016/17
