Menu
21/04/2015
Ambulance Workers To Wear PSNI Riot Gear
Ambulance workers in Northern Ireland are to wear PSNI riot gear while attending disturbances.
The move was taken following a review of riot situations in Northern Ireland.
John McPoland from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: "We need to continually review our operational procedures and this is just one step to try and protect our staff as best as we possibly can," he said. "The uniform that our guys wear normally out on the road, it had a protective hat and a reflective coat.
"But in a riot situation and with the number of petrol bombs that have been thrown about the place, we felt that we could offer them better protection, by providing them with police riot gear and paramedics quite clearly displayed on it."
The Ulster Unionist Party's South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey said he was "shocked" that staff will be kitted out in the gear.
Mr McGimpsey said: "The news that Northern Ireland's paramedics are to wear full PSNI riot gear when called to disturbances is a sad indictment of where we are as a society.
"The Ambulance Service has for decades served all sections of this society, often at great personal risk and in the most horrendous of conditions.
"As Health Minister I promoted a policy of zero tolerance of violence against staff. If we have really reached the point where ambulance staff have to be kitted out in full riot gear then we as a society need to take stock and realise that this is not acceptable."
(CD/JP)
The move was taken following a review of riot situations in Northern Ireland.
John McPoland from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said: "We need to continually review our operational procedures and this is just one step to try and protect our staff as best as we possibly can," he said. "The uniform that our guys wear normally out on the road, it had a protective hat and a reflective coat.
"But in a riot situation and with the number of petrol bombs that have been thrown about the place, we felt that we could offer them better protection, by providing them with police riot gear and paramedics quite clearly displayed on it."
The Ulster Unionist Party's South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey said he was "shocked" that staff will be kitted out in the gear.
Mr McGimpsey said: "The news that Northern Ireland's paramedics are to wear full PSNI riot gear when called to disturbances is a sad indictment of where we are as a society.
"The Ambulance Service has for decades served all sections of this society, often at great personal risk and in the most horrendous of conditions.
"As Health Minister I promoted a policy of zero tolerance of violence against staff. If we have really reached the point where ambulance staff have to be kitted out in full riot gear then we as a society need to take stock and realise that this is not acceptable."
(CD/JP)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
19 July 2019
NI Ambulance Service Recruiting Helicopter Paramedics
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is recruiting for new helicopter paramedics to be based at the Air Ambulance base at Maze Long Kesh in Lisburn and Emergency Ambulance Control at NIAS HQ in Belfast. Successful candidates will join the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team which is made up of 15 doctors and seven paramedics.
NI Ambulance Service Recruiting Helicopter Paramedics
Northern Ireland Ambulance Service is recruiting for new helicopter paramedics to be based at the Air Ambulance base at Maze Long Kesh in Lisburn and Emergency Ambulance Control at NIAS HQ in Belfast. Successful candidates will join the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) team which is made up of 15 doctors and seven paramedics.
01 April 2008
Ambulance Crew Involved In M1 Crash
An ambulance crew has been involved in a crash in Belfast as they were attempting to resuscitate a young baby on the M1 motorway. The crew had been flagged down on Kennedy Way to help an infant who had stopped breathing, when a lorry collided with the ambulance at 11am today. The lorry was approaching the Broadway roundabout.
Ambulance Crew Involved In M1 Crash
An ambulance crew has been involved in a crash in Belfast as they were attempting to resuscitate a young baby on the M1 motorway. The crew had been flagged down on Kennedy Way to help an infant who had stopped breathing, when a lorry collided with the ambulance at 11am today. The lorry was approaching the Broadway roundabout.
06 February 2002
Ambulance staff representatives meet with SDLP
Representatives from the health union Unison and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service have met with the SDLP at Stormont to discuss recent attacks on paramedics.
Ambulance staff representatives meet with SDLP
Representatives from the health union Unison and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service have met with the SDLP at Stormont to discuss recent attacks on paramedics.
26 November 2024
All NI Schools To Have Defibrillators By End Of Academic Year
All schools in Northern Ireland will be provided with life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the end of the current academic year.
All NI Schools To Have Defibrillators By End Of Academic Year
All schools in Northern Ireland will be provided with life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by the end of the current academic year.
13 October 2023
NIAS To Recruit 48 New Paramedics
The Department of Health has approved a Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) recruitment campaign to secure 48 additional paramedics. The approval will mean that the first cohort of students graduating from the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree in 2024 will be able to apply for the newly created positions within NIAS.
NIAS To Recruit 48 New Paramedics
The Department of Health has approved a Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) recruitment campaign to secure 48 additional paramedics. The approval will mean that the first cohort of students graduating from the BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science degree in 2024 will be able to apply for the newly created positions within NIAS.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
