Patient 'threatens two paramedics with 12-inch knife'

It happened on Tuesday when an ambulance was called to an address in Portobello at 8.30pm.

The 30-year-old patient allegedly threatened two paramedics inside the vehicle with the knife.

Police officers attended and arrested the man on suspicion of affray and possession of cannabis.

It happened on the same day a paramedic, called Amy, was assaulted after attending a call to reports of an unconscious man on Hagley Road in Harborne at 9am.

The service said as two paramedics attempted to move the patient, aged in his 20s, into the back of the ambulance, he lashed out.

Amy suffered a fractured wrist, the other unnamed male paramedic suffered knee and back injuries.

It resulted in another ambulance needing to be called to escort their colleagues to Birmingham City Hospital.

The injuries sustained by the male paramedic means he will also be prevented from treating other patients for a while.

A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault.

The violence has been condemned by West Midlands Ambulance Service and West Midlands Police.

Posting a photograph of the broken wrist sustained by one of their paramedics on their Facebook page, an ambulance service spokesman said: "It's enough to make your blood boil. This is Amy's broken wrist. She's one of our paramedics who was assaulted yesterday morning by a patient.

"Not only can she not work and treat patients, she can't give help the charity she supports and will now have it like this when she starts her well-earned holiday soon."

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: "West Midlands Police will not tolerate this kind of offensive behaviour towards anyone, including emergency services staff who are responding to calls for help. We continue to work with our partner agencies to ensure that staff can do their job in a safe environment."