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| Concern at ambulance 'risk lists' | Concern at ambulance 'risk lists' |
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| Ambulance services across the UK hold records of more than 8,500 households who have a history of violence against paramedics, the BBC has learned. | Ambulance services across the UK hold records of more than 8,500 households who have a history of violence against paramedics, the BBC has learned. |
| Staff called to emergencies at these addresses are advised to wait for police before entering the premises. | Staff called to emergencies at these addresses are advised to wait for police before entering the premises. |
| The Patients Association says records must be "absolutely accurate" or "patient safety may be in danger". | The Patients Association says records must be "absolutely accurate" or "patient safety may be in danger". |
| Unison is calling for the system to be reviewed, saying there are "serious questions" about how it works. | Unison is calling for the system to be reviewed, saying there are "serious questions" about how it works. |
| The union says paramedics are faced with a moral dilemma, forced to make a difficult choice between their own safety and that of their patients. | The union says paramedics are faced with a moral dilemma, forced to make a difficult choice between their own safety and that of their patients. |
| Karen Jennings, from Unison, said: "I think there are serious questions to ask about whether ambulance crews should sit outside if somebody inside is having a heart attack. | Karen Jennings, from Unison, said: "I think there are serious questions to ask about whether ambulance crews should sit outside if somebody inside is having a heart attack. |
| "Having said that, if that household has a history of attacking people when they go in, then it doesn't do anybody any good if they were just to rush in and put themselves at risk." | "Having said that, if that household has a history of attacking people when they go in, then it doesn't do anybody any good if they were just to rush in and put themselves at risk." |
| There are an estimated 1,000 attacks a week on health workers and members of the emergency services. | There are an estimated 1,000 attacks a week on health workers and members of the emergency services. |
| Sexual attacks | Sexual attacks |
| Fear of violence has led to all paramedics in London being offered stab-proof vests to wear on duty, and increasingly, there are calls to hand them out to staff nationally. HOW TO LISTEN... The Donal MacIntyre programme is on Radio 5 Live on Sunday, 2 November at 1900 BST. Listen via the BBC iPlayerSubscribe to the podcast | Fear of violence has led to all paramedics in London being offered stab-proof vests to wear on duty, and increasingly, there are calls to hand them out to staff nationally. HOW TO LISTEN... The Donal MacIntyre programme is on Radio 5 Live on Sunday, 2 November at 1900 BST. Listen via the BBC iPlayerSubscribe to the podcast |
| Another way of responding to the problem has been for ambulance services to keep a record of addresses where there have been abuse, threats or attacks. | Another way of responding to the problem has been for ambulance services to keep a record of addresses where there have been abuse, threats or attacks. |
| BBC Radio 5Live's Donal McIntyre programme has obtained a region-by-region breakdown of those records. | BBC Radio 5Live's Donal McIntyre programme has obtained a region-by-region breakdown of those records. |
| The West of England division, which covers Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester, currently has 312 addresses flagged as "at-risk". About half were reported for physical violence and 58 for sexual attacks. | The West of England division, which covers Bristol, Swindon and Gloucester, currently has 312 addresses flagged as "at-risk". About half were reported for physical violence and 58 for sexual attacks. |
| In London, the number is 1,930, but the service did not specify the reasons why properties were included. | In London, the number is 1,930, but the service did not specify the reasons why properties were included. |
| The North West has the most flagged households - 3,071 - but a spokesman pointed out that they made up just 0.10% of all residential addresses. | The North West has the most flagged households - 3,071 - but a spokesman pointed out that they made up just 0.10% of all residential addresses. |
| Andy Price, a paramedic in the West Midlands, told the programme he was assaulted when responding to a call for an arm injury. They may be the patients most in need of care Vanessa Bourne, Patients Association | Andy Price, a paramedic in the West Midlands, told the programme he was assaulted when responding to a call for an arm injury. They may be the patients most in need of care Vanessa Bourne, Patients Association |
| "When we arrived on the scene it very quickly became apparent that the reason for which we had been called was perhaps erroneous," he said. | "When we arrived on the scene it very quickly became apparent that the reason for which we had been called was perhaps erroneous," he said. |
| "There was a number of people there - they had all been drinking quite heavily. My colleague, while attempting to calm the situation, was punched in the face. | "There was a number of people there - they had all been drinking quite heavily. My colleague, while attempting to calm the situation, was punched in the face. |
| "I was later punched in the face myself. I required several days off work." | "I was later punched in the face myself. I required several days off work." |
| Another paramedic who has more than 20 years service at the North East Ambulance NHS Trust believes the problem has got worse recently. | Another paramedic who has more than 20 years service at the North East Ambulance NHS Trust believes the problem has got worse recently. |
| "Even 10 years ago people wouldn't dream of verbally abusing you - now with drinking and drug problems it's much more common," he said. | "Even 10 years ago people wouldn't dream of verbally abusing you - now with drinking and drug problems it's much more common," he said. |
| Behaviour | Behaviour |
| The Patients Association says flaws in the system could put patients at risk. | The Patients Association says flaws in the system could put patients at risk. |
| Spokeswoman Vanessa Bourne said: "A record like this has to be absolutely accurate and up to date. If they are not, patient safety and lives may be in danger. | Spokeswoman Vanessa Bourne said: "A record like this has to be absolutely accurate and up to date. If they are not, patient safety and lives may be in danger. |
| "There are many reasons why a patient's behaviour puts them on the register, but they may be the patients most in need of care." | "There are many reasons why a patient's behaviour puts them on the register, but they may be the patients most in need of care." |
| The recent Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder persons who provide emergency services. | The recent Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 makes it an offence to obstruct or hinder persons who provide emergency services. |
| The Donal MacIntyre programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live at 7pm on Sunday 2 November, 2008 or download the programme podcast. | The Donal MacIntyre programme will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 live at 7pm on Sunday 2 November, 2008 or download the programme podcast. |
| Are you a paramedic? Send us your comments on the issues raised in this story using the form below: | |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | |