Angela FergusonNorth West
BreakfastParamedics in the north west are being “punched, spat at, kicked, racially abused [and] sexually assaulted” during the course of their work, an ambulance service has said.
Natalie Samuels from North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) said their staff were facing an increased number of attacks, with abuse happening on a daily basis.
She said staff were subjected to a “shocking” range of such incidents while out on the road and this had to stop.
“Every ambulance service in the country is seeing an increase in violence, unfortunately,” she said.
Ms Samuels, who is head of violence prevention reduction and security for NWAS, said they needed to work alongside members of the public and partner agencies to “make sure it doesn’t become the norm and it is the exception”.
She said that in 2024 there was at least one verbal abuse incident recorded per day by staff in NWAS.
Ms Samuels said some ambulance service staff took the attitude that this was part of the job and they needed to carry on but they were urging staff to report any such incidents so early intervention and support could be put in place.
NWAS supports staff who have experienced these incidents, added Ms Samuels, who was a police officer for 17 years before joining NWAS in July last year.
“We have got to acknowledge the psychological impact it can have on our workforce,” said Ms Samuels, who said returning to work after such an incident could be “scary”.
Body-warn cameras
Ms Samuels has extended her team to strengthen support for NWAS staff and make sure they “get as much support wrapped around them [so] they feel safe and secure within the workplace”, she said.
“If you do assault a paramedic or you verbally abuse them we will take robust action and seek to prosecute those people,” Ms Samuels said.
She said that where incidents were reported and it was in the public interest to prosecute, then they did see high conviction rates.
Staff undergoing training were made aware that such incidents may happen, which was “really sad” to admit, Ms Samuels added.
Violence prevention and reduction specialist practitioners have been appointed across Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.
Their role is to provide advice and direct support to staff through the prosecution process, along with promoting the use of body-worn cameras, and looking at repeat offenders to manage risk as well as supporting staff.