Recent reports highlight a troubling increase in abuse against ambulance staff, raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being.
North Wales: It’s really alarming to hear about the rising abuse against ambulance staff. The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has pointed out that the UK is seeing the highest rates of violence and aggression towards these essential workers.
Between 2019 and 2024, the Welsh Ambulance Service recorded over 2,500 incidents of abuse. That’s a staggering number! Out of those, 398 were physical assaults, while the rest were verbal or other forms of non-physical abuse.
Just last year, there were 155 reported cases of abuse in North Wales alone. Legal Expert solicitor Patrick Mallon expressed how concerning these figures are, emphasizing that no one should feel threatened at work, especially those in the NHS.
Jason Killens, the AACE Chair, also shared his disappointment over the increasing violence against ambulance staff. He highlighted how this behavior affects the mental health and well-being of those who are just trying to help others.
They’re calling on the public to treat ambulance staff with the respect they deserve. Plus, they want the courts to enforce stricter penalties for those who commit these crimes against emergency workers.
On top of that, there have been 74 legal claims related to assaults on ambulance staff since 2019. The costs associated with these claims have reached nearly a million pounds, which is just mind-boggling.
