Violence an occupational hazard for paramedics

Published on Monday 30 June 2008 10:41

PARAMEDICS face assaults and even death threats as they respond to emergencies in the Lothians, it was revealed today.

New figures show that while the number of attacks on crews are falling, at least one serious incident is still being recorded every month.

Ambulance chiefs today welcomed the drop in attacks but said any incident remained unacceptable.

The service now refuses to send crews into certain situations, such as pub brawls, without police assistance.

And they have a list of addresses in the Lothians where known aggressors live and where they will not attend without back-up.

The new figures show attacks in the Lothians have steadily declined since 2005, when there were 23 incidents.

The biggest impact has been made by the Emergency Workers Act, which was introduced in Scotland in 2005, making it an offence to impede a firefighter, police officer or paramedic in an emergency situation.

Two years later the number of incidents had halved.

However, not all ambulance staff report abuse and assaults, and union representatives do not believe the problem has gone away.

David Forbes, Unison's regional officer for the ambulance service, said: "I think in some ways it is marginally better, but I don't know how much you can put that down to the Emergency Workers Act.

"There is greater awareness of zero tolerance and I believe there has also been a public revulsion at the actions of a minority. From the point of view of crews, they feel their safety is being treated more seriously."

In one instance, a paramedic based at Livingston, was attacked so badly she was off work for six months.

Lynn Sutherland attended a callout in Harthill, North Lanarkshire, in 2005, only to be confronted by a drunken teenager who threatened her with a glass table.

She persuaded him to put it down but was then attacked by Grahame Donnelly, then 17, who punched her right arm, back, chest and jaw. He was given an 18-month sentence.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: "Since 2004 we have had a proactive group working to reduce violence and aggression.

"In that time we have seen the Emergency Workers Act introduced, which has increased the tariff for those offenders who assault our staff, and we have seen a number of successful prosecutions. We will continue to take proactive steps to protect our staff against violence."

Shona Robison, Minister for Public Health, said: "Attacks on our emergency workers are completely unacceptable and the Emergency Workers Act gives vital additional legal protection to people who often have to work in difficult or dangerous situations."