Attacks on ambulance staff rise

Nearly 80 ambulance staff have been attacked in the West Midlands in the last six months, almost as many as in the previous year, it has been revealed.

Staff attending life threatening emergencies have been subjected to assaults involving kicking, punching and spitting.

Between April 2006 and March 2007,100 physical assaults were reported which has so far led to 28 convictions against the perpetrators.

But between April and October this year trust bosses say 79 physical assaults have been reported which have led to 15 successful convictions so far.

The figures have been released by the ambulance trust in the run up to NHS Security Awareness Month which takes place in November.

The trust's chief executive has now ruled that staff working for the trust be issued with safety advice.

Ambulance drivers and medics will be warned about safety and security issues through posters and articles which will deal with issues including ambulance security, lone working, protecting property and car parking.

Chief executive officer, Anthony Marsh, added: "With approximately 3,000 operational staff, responding to 500,000 emergency calls every year, fortunately attacks on staff are the exception, rather than the norm, however one assault is an assault too many."

Steve Elliker, local security management specialist for the trust, said: "The problem appears to be growing as from April 2007 to October we have already had 79 physical assaults reported and 15 successful convictions so far, compared to 100 reports between April 2006 and March 2007, although that may be because we are encouraging staff to report more incidents to us.

"We do everything we can as a trust, working with our staff, police and the Crown Prosecution Service, to bring anyone who assaults our staff, to court and to give out a clear message that this kind of behaviour simply will not be tolerated."