By Michael McHugh
The Press Association
DUBLIN, Ireland — Efforts to prevent drunks and hooligans from abusing ambulance staff and firemen in Northern Ireland have failed to stop the number of incidents rising, it was revealed today.
Too much alcohol and a lack of respect for authority was blamed by one ambulance service member. There were 63 assaults in 2004 and 92 in 2008, the Department of Health said.
A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it should be brought to an end.
“Attacks on ambulance crews are totally unacceptable and can sometimes threaten the capacity of the service to deliver the necessary care and treatment to the ill and injured,” he added.
“These attacks, as well as having a negative impact on staff, place communities at risk.”
SDLP Assembly member Tommy Burns obtained the information from Health Minister Michael McGimpsey.
There were 341 assaults and 336 work-related injuries between 2004 and 2008 in the ambulance service. There were 21 attacks on members of the fire service and 265 work-related injuries.
The Ambulance Service added: “NIAS will continue to work with all agencies and public representatives who have an interest in this particular issue in an effort to bring these attacks to an end.
“Our main concern is for the welfare of our staff and we would ask that everyone makes an effort to ensure that ambulance crews are given the space required to carry out, what are in many cases, their life saving duties.”
Closer links have been formed with the police and staff receive care and responsibility training helping them deal with potentially violent situations.
Safety measures include on-board cameras, reinforced windows, central locking, personal radios, panic buttons and access to counselling.
Mr Burns said: “Assaulting a Good Samaritan such as a paramedic whilst they are performing medical care duties is a reprehensible act.
“I have to wonder what people who do such a thing are thinking.
“Custodial sentences are the only option for people who are convicted of these sorts of vicious and cowardly offences.”
An ambulance service source said there was a zero-tolerance policy towards those who attacked members.
“It is an authority thing and basically too much drink. It could be anything from spitting, verbal abuse, grabbing you, pushing and pulling, to striking people,” he added.
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