Attacks on East of England Ambulance staff increase by 18%

Attacks on paramedics and community first responders in the Hertfordshire and Essex region have risen by almost a fifth, according to the latest data.

In the wake of the increase, a new campaign has been launched to protect workers from increasing levels of violence and aggression.

There were 1,455 recorded attacks on East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) staff in 2023 – up 18% on 2022.

Of these, 362 were physical assaults, 522 were verbal and 571 were instances of non-physical abuse such as aggressive gestures and intimidating behaviour.

The “Your Safety, Our Priority” campaign builds on the #WorkWithoutFear initiative launched in 2022 by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and NHS England, which highlighted the profound impact abuse has on ambulance staff and volunteers.

The campaign features a range of resources aimed at helping to keep staff safe, including case studies, videos, guidance packs and online Q&A sessions.

It also highlights the importance of using body-worn cameras – which have to be activated by the ambulance worker but can record footage for use in any prosecution.

The cameras were piloted in 2022 and will be rolled out across EEAST, with all staff encouraged to wear them for protection.

The campaign is being led by EEAST’s health, safety and security specialist, Alistair Livingstone.

He said: “We see too many incidents where our colleagues are attacked – physically or verbally – when they are there doing their job in difficult circumstances to help people in their time of need. It is completely unacceptable.

“We’re doing all we can to support our staff if they are confronted or physically attacked.

“In the coming months, we’re introducing a new training programme for our people to recognise and assess the risk of potentially dangerous situations and how to get away to safety.

“We’re driving forward the delivery and use of body-worn cameras, which are invaluable for staff if something happens.

“We’re reviewing how the trust manages and responds to internal reports of violence and aggression, so our colleagues can see what action is being taken.

“Finally, we are being clear about how the trust will support and help our colleagues through any process, including prosecution of those that choose to attack emergency workers, which can be really gruelling for all involved.”

Neill Moloney, EEAST chief executive, said: “The safety of our staff is our top priority and any form of violence or aggression experienced in the workplace is completely unacceptable.

“We recognise our people work in dynamic, often unpredictable environments and we cannot eliminate the risk of violence and aggression entirely.

“What we can do with the campaign is to give our people the knowledge, skills and equipment to help safeguard themselves in these situations. This reinforces our commitment to our people’s wellbeing at work.”