By Joanna Codd
The Bournemouth Echo
DORSET, UK — An angry ambulance boss has issued a stern warning after two crew members were allegedly attacked while going to the aid of a patient.
Ken Wenman, chief executive of South Western Ambulance Service, said: “If you want an ambulance dispatched without delay, do not abuse our staff. The trust takes incidents of this nature extremely seriously and any abuse, whether verbal or physical, will not be tolerated.”
He spoke out after three clinicians were called to an address in Wellington, Somerset, to treat a male patient. A man has been arrested and charged.
It is the latest in a series of incidents directed at ambulance staff. In 2007, two men were charged with public order offences after a paramedic response car came under attack in Bournemouth.
And a drug addict armed with a screwdriver broke into an ambulance to steal a satellite navigation system while the crew were tending a sick woman in the back.
Last December, a crew taking a dangerously ill patient to Poole Hospital were abused and threatened when they asked a male driver to stop using his mobile telephone while driving.
Earlier this year, emergency resuscitation equipment was stolen from an ambulance while it was on an emergency call. And in May, 49-year-old Gilian Birdsall was found guilty of obstructing an ambulance with her car.
Mr Wenman, who headed Dorset Ambulance before it merged with other trusts to create a regional service, said: “Every member of staff plays a vital role in serving their local community and should be able to fulfil their life-saving role without fear of abuse and assault. There will be consequences for people who believe it is acceptable to disrespect ambulance personnel.
“I cannot understand why anyone would want to abuse the very people who are there to treat and reassure them. My thoughts are with our staff members who were needlessly assaulted. I would like to thank them for retaining their professionalism during the incident and wish them a swift recovery.”
Copyright 2009 NewsQuest Media Group Limited
All Rights Reserved