New data from ambulance trust chief execs shows 15 per cent increase in reports of violence against ambulance staff

Responding to data collated by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) which shows that for the first time ever, over 22,500 incidents of violence against ambulance staff have been reported in the last year, a 15 per cent increase on the previous year, Rory Deighton, acute director at the NHS Confederation, said:

“It is deeply concerning that there has been a 15 per cent increase in the reporting of violent incidents against ambulance staff. It is unacceptable and can have a significant impact on staff health and wellbeing.

“The safety of all NHS staff is non-negotiable. Everyone should be able to go to work without the fear that they might be attacked or assaulted while doing their job.

“After one of the toughest winters for the ambulance service we’ve seen in years, we cannot have a summer with yet another spike in cases of violence faced by crews when they are responding to and helping those most in need in life-threatening emergencies every single day.”