Attacks on staff is an attack on the health service - McGimpsey

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today said he was appalled that Northern Ireland Ambulance Service staff have suffered four assaults in less than a week.

On three occasions, Ambulance staff were attacked by patients. One of the assaults was particularly vicious and involved a female paramedic being grabbed by the throat and punched around the head.

The Minister said: “I am absolutely appalled and disgusted by these violent and uncalled for attacks on ambulance staff. Paramedics and other staff should not be expected to put their own safety at risk when attending emergency calls to the public.

“For patients who need urgent treatment to then attack the very people who have come to help them is disgraceful and these people should be thoroughly ashamed of their behaviour.

“People who assault any health and social care staff should face the full force of the law. That is why I recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the
Police and Public Prosecution Services to ensure the protection of health service staff.”

Healthcare staff and emergency services continue to be subjected to verbal and physical abuse on a daily basis. Last year alone there were over 8,000 cases of verbal and
physical abuse against healthcare staff.

Mr McGimpsey said: “I wish to reinforce the message of zero tolerance: zero tolerance on attacks; zero tolerance on abuse; and zero tolerance on threatening behaviour.

“Anti social behaviour in hospitals and attacks on healthcare workers is a serious issue and is one that I am working in partnership with the PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to address.

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