More than 300 assaults reported by south-west ambulance staff since first lockdown
The service has seen over 1,700 incidents of violence and aggression since the 24th March 2020
Ambulance workers across the south-west have reported 322 hundred physical assaults since the UK first went into lockdown.
The service that operates from Cornwall to Gloucestershire says it has seen more than 1,747 incidents of violence and aggression.
That works out to almost five per day between 24th March 2020 and 23rd of March 2021 and is a rise of over 30% on the year before.
Bosses say staff, from frontline crews to call handlers, are continuing to experience an escalating amount of abuse from patients.
Newly qualified paramedics Dan Williams and Kyiah Ellis were among those assaulted by a patient while on duty.
The pair had responded to a potentially serious incident, involving a man who was reportedly unconscious on a bus, in the Weston area of Bath on 12th February.
The man, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs, became physically and verbally aggressive soon after they arrived.
He exited the bus, headbutted its wing mirror and windscreen, and punched a parked car.
Dan and Kyiah called for police assistance and retreated onto the bus for their safety.
The man re-entered the bus and spat in Dan's eye, while continuing to shout at him and Kyiah. He was arrested by police, taken into custody and charged.
The man was convicted at Bath Magistrates' Court on 15th February of three charges of assaulting emergency services workers and one charge of criminal damage. He was sentenced to 32 week in prison and ordered to pay a total of £300 compensation to the victims.
Dan and Kyiah said: "We welcome the prosecution, and thank the police and SWASFT for their support throughout this. We are disappointed that simply doing our job, and ultimately likely saving the life of the patient, resulted in us being assaulted and fearing for our own safety. Assaults against our ambulance colleagues are never acceptable, and leave a lasting effect on those there simply to help".
Another man was jailed for six months on 28th January following his assault on paramedic Matt Bryant, who was called to treat him in Plymouth.
Matt said: "We are working so hard to help people during a global pandemic. But assaults are becoming more of a regular occurrence, and they have a significant impact on us".
Paramedic Mike Jones, who is SWASFT's Violence Reduction Lead, said: "Sadly our people are victim every day to unacceptable behaviour from a minority of patients and other members of the public, while they are serving the communities of the South West and saving lives. Any such incident can have a lasting impact on them, their loved ones, and other colleagues.
"We take whatever is necessary to protect our people from harm, including doing all we can to ensure offenders are prosecuted through the criminal justice system.
"Please respect our people, and help them to help you".
Paramedic Mike Jones