Nearly 10,000 attacks on ambulance workers

Ambulance workers suffered at least 9,500 violent attacks at work over the last five years, the GMB general union believes.

Its analysis shows that attacks which saw emergency crews bitten, head-butted, spat at and struck with weapons, took place more than 9,565 times from the financial year 2017/18 to 21/22. A total of 1,248 of these were sexual assaults.

But, the union warns, the true numbers of assaults is likely to be far higher, as only eight out of 13 ambulance trusts across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland responded to its freedom of information request.

“Ambulance workers go to work every day to save lives,” Rachel Harrison, GMB national secretary, stated.

“Despite this, thousands of them are bitten, attacked, spat at and even sexually assaulted.

“We demand full enforcement of the protect the protectors legislation [the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018], investment in better systems to flag offenders, and much better support for the victims of violence.”