Ambulance staff ‘bitten, head-butted and spat at’ on obligation
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mbulance staff have been topic to hundreds of violent assaults within the line of obligation during the last 5 years, a brand new research suggests.
The GMB union stated its investigation has revealed round 9,500 incidents together with crews being bitten, head-butted, spat at and struck with weapons.
More than 1,200 of the incidents had been sexual assaults, stated the union.
We demand full enforcement of the Protect the Protectors laws, funding in higher techniques to flag offenders, and a lot better help for the victims of violence
The GMB stated the true scale of the assaults is prone to be increased as solely eight out of 11 ambulance trusts throughout England, Scotland and Wales responded to its Freedom of Information Act request.
GMB nationwide secretary Rachel Harrison stated: “Ambulance workers go to work every day to save lives.
“Despite this, thousands of them are bitten, attacked, spat at and even sexually assaulted.
“No one should have to put up with that, least of all those who are there to protect us.
“GMB members helped change the law but more needs to be done.
“We demand full enforcement of the Protect the Protectors legislation, investment in better systems to flag offenders, and much better support for the victims of violence.”