Ambulance attacks

Union chiefs hit out at‘horrific’ assaults on mercy crews

Ambulance staff across Lanarkshire were assaulted 39 times in 2018.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information request revealed there were 21 physical assaults and 18 verbal assaults on ambulance staff last year - the same as in 2017.

In 2018, only NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (53 physical and 37 verbal) and NHS Lothian (29 physical and 25 verbal) saw a higher number of assaults on ambulance staff than NHS Lanarkshire.

Across Scotland ambulance service staff were assaulted 269 times in 2018, however that was down from the 279 assaults recorded in 2017.

Physical assaults across the country were down by one to 143 while verbal assaults were down by nine to 126 last year.

UNISON head of health Sara Gorton was appalled by the figures and has called on the government and the NHS to do more to protect staff.

She said: “It’s horrific that ambulance workers face increasing abuse and violence in the line of duty. This should never be part of the job.

“These assaults can cause longterm physical and mental harm. Courts must take advantage of new laws and give attackers stiffer jail terms. Employers and the government also must do more to prevent assaults and protect staff.”

Frances Dodd, acute nursing director for NHS Lanarkshire said: “NHS Lanarkshire operates a zero-tolerance policy against anyone who is knowingly violent or aggressive towards any of our staff and we are continually working in partnership with local police in the management of aggressive and violent individuals.

“Prevention and management of violence and aggression training is mandatory for all staff to enable and equip them to manage violent or potentially violent patients and others.”