Ambulance Service seek tougher action to halt assaults

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service has called on the Government to toughen its stance against perpetrators of attacks on ambulance staff.

Launching a major poster campaign today in a bid to halt such assaults on ambulance crews, the Service said the Government must tackle a problem that has seen around 70 attacks on paramedics in Northern Ireland over the past six months.

Two main messages will go up in shopping centres, GPs surgeries, pubs and clubs in the worst affected areas of north and west Belfast, Londonderry and Bangor.

Supporting the campaign, UUP Assembly health spokesman, the Rev. Robert Coulter says the time has come for the Government to stop talking tough and implement effective action to protect ambulance staff across the province.

The North Antrim councillor said: “It is shocking that there is an increasing threat to the safety of paramedics as they carry out lifesaving work across the province.

“There is an urgent need to protect staff from violent people and the time has come for decisive action by the Government to ensure there is an effective deterrent.

“The Ambulance Service is right to demand jail every time for such offences. I agree entirely with their call and will continue to make representations for tougher action against those who appear before the courts.

“If we fail to tackle this reprehensible trend of viciousness then we fail to protect the people who are day and daily saving lives across the Province.”

According to government figures, there were 5,065 verbal and physical assaults recorded by health trusts across the province in the 12 months from April 2002.

(MB)