Major rise in abuse of South Western Ambulance staff during lockdown
The Service has called the new statistics "unacceptable"
Last updated 8th Apr 2021
There has been a 33% increase in violent and aggressive behaviour towards South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT) workers, since the first lockdown got underway last year.
From 24 March 2020 to the 23 March 2021, employees reported 1,747 incidents. That's over a third more than the previous 12 months.
These include 515 cases of verbal abuse, 447 aggressive behaviour incidents and 322 physical assaults.
Paramedics have been on the receiving end of spits, punches and kicks during the Coronavirus crisis.
Newly qualified paramedics Dan Williams and Kyiah Ellis were shouted at, after arriving to help a man in Bath earlier this year.
The former was also spat in the eye during the incident.
The offender has since been sentenced to 32 weeks in prison.
'Unacceptable behaviour from a minority of patients'
Paramedic Mike Jones, SWASFT's Violence Reduction Lead, is now urging residents across our region to "respect" the Trust's staff and "help them to help you".
"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," he added.
"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".
To reduce the number of these incidents occurring, Mr Jones has confirmed that SWASFT is planning on introducing body cameras.
The Trust hopes this will help bring anyone abusing staff members to justice and assist police with finding culprits.
"Our message to people who decide to abuse and assault our staff is very clear," he told us.
"If you're one of those small select people that think it's appropriate, we will find you and do everything we can within our power that you get prosecuted for your actions".