Paramedic attacks 'detrimental'

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Three paramedics have been attacked on the north coast within the last month, according to the ambulance service.

In the latest incident, a paramedic was unable to complete his shift after he was assaulted, reducing the level of ambulance cover in the area.

Sammy Nicholl, station officer at Altnagelvin Hospital, said such attacks had a negative effect on staff.

"The crew are apprehensive when they are going to treat a patient in some of these situations," he said.

"They don't know how they are going to be accepted.

"If it comes to a situation when a crew are attacked, it can have a detrimental effect in that the ambulance is taken out of service, because the crew is put off duty."

In the latest incident a paramedic was attacked in the back of his ambulance by a patient being taken to the Causeway Hospital on Sunday.

The victim was unable to continue working and cover in the area was affected for eight hours.

He was struck in the windpipe, head, chest and abdomen by the patient.

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.