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Attacks on paramedics in Sussex on the rise (From The Argus)
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Attacks on paramedics in Sussex on the rise
7:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in News By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter
Attacks and threats against paramedics and other ambulance workers in Sussex are on the rise.
Crews have reported being punched and kicked as they try to do their job, leaving them with cuts, bruises and concussion.
Others have found themselves subjected to verbal abuse, aggression and intimidating behaviour from patients, relatives and sometimes passers-by.
Unions said they were aware of the increase in cases and believe the real number could be higher because not every incident is reported.
Unison regional representative for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Mary Laxton, said: “A significant number of incidents relate to drink and alcohol, particularly among younger people in town centre areas at the weekends.
“It also related to people who have mental health problems while others may be facing particular life problems like redundancies.
“Sometimes people can lash out and end up taking out their frustrations on the first person in uniform they see, even if that person is trying to help them.
“We work closely with our members and with the trust to ensure they get the training and support they need so they can deal with situations and make a judgement call on how they can be handled.
“We also provide support if there needs to be any legal action taken.”
Trust figures show there were 58 physical attacks reported by ambulance crews in Sussex between April 2011 and the end of March compared to 46 the year before.
Reports of verbal abuse and aggression also went up from 96 to 117.
The ambulance service said it took assaults against its staff very seriously and would always try to take action against those who intentionally attack its workers.
Local security manager for the trust, David Dixon, said the rise in numbers could also be down to the service dealing with more 999 calls.
He said: “While one assault is too many, incidents of violence against staff only make up 0.02% of the total responses we make each year.
“Since 2008, 131 incidents of violence, abuse or aggression have resulted in some form of sanction giving the trust one of the best prosecution success rates in the country.
“When compared to other ambulance trusts we are also below the national average for the rise in the number of assaults.
“However, the trust isn’t complacent and is very proactive in providing conflict management training to all its frontline staff on induction and annual refresher courses, which is more than the guidelines state we need to do. “The trust also assists in developing new national guidance, based on identified best practice, to ensure that wherever possible the risk to staff is minimised.”
Comments(23)
emma barnes
says...
10:14am Sat 18 Aug 12
http://inspectorgadg
et.wordpress.com/201
2/08/12/paramedic-si
ngle-responders-a-fa
lse-economy/
Getaroundin
says...
10:18am Sat 18 Aug 12
greeg2
says...
11:33am Sat 18 Aug 12
Getaroundin
says...
11:46am Sat 18 Aug 12
Goldenwight
says...
12:31pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Getaroundin wrote:"Regardless of circumstance." Mmmm, a few years ago I was attacked by a psychopath (completely random attack) and left for dead. When in hospital (after some 2 hours had passed) I regained consciousness and tried to fend off a paramedic. I had no idea what I was doing and was acting autonomically, before phasing back into a coma for a week. No charges brought, since I was clearly not in control of my actions. Yet that incident HAD to be recorded as an assault on the paramedic concerned.
Should be a minimum 3 years in jail for anyone who attacks any member of the emergency services, regardless of circumstance
By your reckoning, I should have spent the next 18 months in jail? Wouldn't be a 'Sun' reader, by any chance, would you?
greeg2
says...
5:13pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Getaroundin wrote:It's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like this
Wendywoodlandh
says...
5:19pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Wendywoodlandh
says...
5:19pm Sat 18 Aug 12
Wendywoodlandh
says...
5:19pm Sat 18 Aug 12
AmboGuy
says...
6:16pm Sat 18 Aug 12
tonybee
says...
2:20am Sun 19 Aug 12
They certainly saved me
Perhaps in an ideal world they should treat the victims & not treat the a******e
perps until the police arrive - if the scum
die in the meantime - so -what ?
Getaroundin
says...
8:00am Sun 19 Aug 12
greeg2 wrote:It is just such a ridiculous suggestion and I was trying to be polite in my earlier post. How on earth would a paramedic responding to what is by definition an emergency situation have the ability to get ID from the patient and run a check against some sort of blacklist?
Getaroundin wrote:It's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like this
Have I missed something?
Getaroundin
says...
8:05am Sun 19 Aug 12
Goldenwight wrote:Everyone has a story and the behaviour described in yours was unacceptable.
Getaroundin wrote:"Regardless of circumstance." Mmmm, a few years ago I was attacked by a psychopath (completely random attack) and left for dead. When in hospital (after some 2 hours had passed) I regained consciousness and tried to fend off a paramedic. I had no idea what I was doing and was acting autonomically, before phasing back into a coma for a week. No charges brought, since I was clearly not in control of my actions. Yet that incident HAD to be recorded as an assault on the paramedic concerned.
Should be a minimum 3 years in jail for anyone who attacks any member of the emergency services, regardless of circumstance
By your reckoning, I should have spent the next 18 months in jail? Wouldn't be a 'Sun' reader, by any chance, would you?
greeg2
says...
8:42am Sun 19 Aug 12
Getaroundin wrote:I wasn't suggesting a paramedic should check the id of a person.You're correct you are missing something,but if it has to be pointed out,you wouldn't understand.Have a nice day.
greeg2 wrote:It is just such a ridiculous suggestion and I was trying to be polite in my earlier post. How on earth would a paramedic responding to what is by definition an emergency situation have the ability to get ID from the patient and run a check against some sort of blacklist? Have I missed something?Getaroundin wrote: Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like thisIt's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
ps.thanks for being so polite,it was very thoughtful of you.
Getaroundin
says...
8:46am Sun 19 Aug 12
greeg2 wrote:Thank you, what were you suggesting exactly?
Getaroundin wrote:I wasn't suggesting a paramedic should check the id of a person.You're correct you are missing something,but if it has to be pointed out,you wouldn't understand.Have a nice day.
greeg2 wrote:It is just such a ridiculous suggestion and I was trying to be polite in my earlier post. How on earth would a paramedic responding to what is by definition an emergency situation have the ability to get ID from the patient and run a check against some sort of blacklist? Have I missed something?Getaroundin wrote: Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like thisIt's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
ps.thanks for being so polite,it was very thoughtful of you.
Getaroundin
says...
8:56am Sun 19 Aug 12
Getaroundin wrote:Also, if the offender didn't have any family, where would the deterrent be and would families have the option of divorcing themselves from offenders to avoid this. Finally, how would this proposal fit with current European legislation?
greeg2 wrote:Thank you, what were you suggesting exactly?
Getaroundin wrote:I wasn't suggesting a paramedic should check the id of a person.You're correct you are missing something,but if it has to be pointed out,you wouldn't understand.Have a nice day.
greeg2 wrote:It is just such a ridiculous suggestion and I was trying to be polite in my earlier post. How on earth would a paramedic responding to what is by definition an emergency situation have the ability to get ID from the patient and run a check against some sort of blacklist? Have I missed something?Getaroundin wrote: Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like thisIt's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
ps.thanks for being so polite,it was very thoughtful of you.
Very much looking forward to learning more.
AmboGuy
says...
12:40pm Sun 19 Aug 12
Getaroundin
says...
5:56pm Sun 19 Aug 12
AmboGuy wrote:Brilliant - My girlfriend is a nurse and the stories are shocking
We have 'blacklisted' patients in the Ambulance service. When they ring up the address is flagged up by our control room. We won't not go but we will automatically not go in without the police there. That might delay their treatment but they should have thought of that before they kicked off the first time. Of course this can't happen if they're in the street although you get to learn who your 'local scrotes' are pretty quickly!
Getaroundin
says...
5:58pm Sun 19 Aug 12
AmboGuy wrote:Brilliant - My girlfriend is a nurse and the stories are shocking
We have 'blacklisted' patients in the Ambulance service. When they ring up the address is flagged up by our control room. We won't not go but we will automatically not go in without the police there. That might delay their treatment but they should have thought of that before they kicked off the first time. Of course this can't happen if they're in the street although you get to learn who your 'local scrotes' are pretty quickly!
greeg2
says...
12:48am Mon 20 Aug 12
Getaroundin wrote:If the offender doesn't have any family,the point's invalid.The deterrent would obviously only be on the assailant,subject to the age of responsibility prescribed by law.
Getaroundin wrote:Also, if the offender didn't have any family, where would the deterrent be and would families have the option of divorcing themselves from offenders to avoid this. Finally, how would this proposal fit with current European legislation? Very much looking forward to learning more.greeg2 wrote:Thank you, what were you suggesting exactly?Getaroundin wrote:I wasn't suggesting a paramedic should check the id of a person.You're correct you are missing something,but if it has to be pointed out,you wouldn't understand.Have a nice day. ps.thanks for being so polite,it was very thoughtful of you.greeg2 wrote:It is just such a ridiculous suggestion and I was trying to be polite in my earlier post. How on earth would a paramedic responding to what is by definition an emergency situation have the ability to get ID from the patient and run a check against some sort of blacklist? Have I missed something?Getaroundin wrote: Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like thisIt's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
As regards European legislation,you don't know,and neither do I.
Condone the thumping of paramedics and hospital staff all you want,but don't expect everyone to agree with you!
Joshiman
says...
3:28pm Mon 20 Aug 12
Getaroundin
says...
8:18pm Mon 20 Aug 12
greeg2 wrote:So are you retracting your suggestion, modifying it or sticking with it?
Getaroundin wrote:If the offender doesn't have any family,the point's invalid.The deterrent would obviously only be on the assailant,subject to the age of responsibility prescribed by law.
Getaroundin wrote:Also, if the offender didn't have any family, where would the deterrent be and would families have the option of divorcing themselves from offenders to avoid this. Finally, how would this proposal fit with current European legislation? Very much looking forward to learning more.greeg2 wrote:Thank you, what were you suggesting exactly?Getaroundin wrote:I wasn't suggesting a paramedic should check the id of a person.You're correct you are missing something,but if it has to be pointed out,you wouldn't understand.Have a nice day. ps.thanks for being so polite,it was very thoughtful of you.greeg2 wrote:It is just such a ridiculous suggestion and I was trying to be polite in my earlier post. How on earth would a paramedic responding to what is by definition an emergency situation have the ability to get ID from the patient and run a check against some sort of blacklist? Have I missed something?Getaroundin wrote: Not the easiest one to enforce though, I wish people would think a bit more before posting like thisIt's not easy to enforce a speed limit but the authorities try,and you're offering advice?Posting just to have a go at what someone else said without offering an opinion on the story yourself,makes you look vapid!Hey,why don't you elaborate and explain why it would be difficult to enforce,redeem yourself!
As regards European legislation,you don't know,and neither do I.
Condone the thumping of paramedics and hospital staff all you want,but don't expect everyone to agree with you!
Your comments are less than clear and if you could clarify, I'd be most grateful.
Many thanks
Enema of the peephole says...
8:48am Sat 18 Aug 12