Paramedic is beaten up by patient

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6999420.stm

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A paramedic has been assaulted in the back of his ambulance by a patient being taken to hospital.

The victim was struck in the windpipe, then in the head, chest and abdomen by the man who was picked up in the Ballycastle area on Sunday night.

The paramedic was unable to continue working and an ambulance service spokesperson said cover in the Causeway area was depleted for eight hours.

One person was removed from the ambulance by the police and arrested.

There have been three other attacks on ambulance staff in Northern Ireland in the past month.

Brian McNeill, of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, said: "Once again a member of our service has been assaulted as he was helping a patient who had called for assistance.

"These attacks have a serious adverse effect on the victims who only want to be allowed to do their job, which is to provide care to those who are in need of our assistance."