South East ambulance staff face thousands of violent attacks and sexual assaults
The GMB Union claims workers at South East Coast and South Central Ambulance services are spat at, punched and verbally abused on a daily basis
Last updated 5th Jun 2023
Almost 2,000 violent attacks against ambulance staff in the south have been reported over the past five years.
There were 1,033 recorded incidents at South East Coast Ambulance Service and 993 at South Central Ambulance Service, where workers were spat at, punched, headbutted or hit with a weapon.
Almost 100 of those were sexual assaults, according to new figures from the GMB Union.
Rachel Harrison, GMB National Secretary, said: “Ambulance workers across the South East go to work every day to save lives.
“Despite this, thousands of them are bitten, attacked, spat at and even sexually assaulted.
"No one should have to put up with that, least of all those who are there to protect us.
“GMB members helped change the law but more needs to be done.
“We demand full enforcement of the Protect the Protectors legislation, investment in better systems to flag offenders, and much better support for the victims of violence.”
The Union helped bring in a new law in 2018, giving harsher sentences to those who assault ambulance workers.
South East Coast Ambulance Service has announced body worn cameras will be made available to front line staff at more locations.