All paramedics to get body cameras in abuse fightback

ALL paramedics will soon wear body cameras as part of measures to help protect them from attacks.

A third of ambulance staff have been the victims of violence in the past year, NHS data shows.

Now health officials want to expand an £8million scheme to fund body-worn cameras for staff across all ambulance services.

The 2018 NHS Staff Survey revealed that one in seven staff experienced violence in the past 12 months from patients or relatives. Health minister Stephen Hammond said all NHS staff should be able to carry out their duties without fear.

He said: ‘Investigating every incident of violence and abuse against staff is essential. NHS organisations must commit sufficient resources to get this right.

‘When you or your colleagues are aware of someone who has suffered a verbal or physical assault, give them the support, empathy and understanding they need.

‘If we don’t embed this culture change, we will fail to attract or retain excellent staff who fear frequent abuse.’ LGBT staff are more likely to be attacked, with more than one fifth reporting incidents. However, the rate is at its lowest for five years.

Ambulance staff are particumaximum larly at risk because of the unpredictable nature of emergencies they respond to. Officials say violence should not be an occupational hazard and more protection is required. Last year, the jail sentence for assaulting an emergency worker was doubled to 12 months.

Ministers said healthcare workers were being offered a package of support, including quicker access to mental health help and physiotherapy. The pledge comes after security staff at Southampton General Hospital walked out in a dispute over safety and pay.

Workers said they face regular attacks by members of the public under the influence of drink or drugs, and want better protective equipment such as stab vests.

NHS staff were injured 8,367 times in assaults in 2017/18 but trusts recorded just 216 criminal sanctions against their attackers.

In October, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the country’s first Violence Reduction Strategy for the NHS, which pledges to work with the police and Crown Prosecution Service.

The Care Quality Commission will assess what trusts are doing to tackle violence against staff as part of its inspection regime. Staff are also being given better training for violent situations.

The expected roll-out follows a pilot involving 465 ambulance crews, who were all equipped with body cameras.

‘Verbal or physical abuse’