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Ambulance crews demand stab vests Ambulance crews demand stab vests
(about 4 hours later)
A union which represents ambulance workers is calling for its members to be issued with stab-proof vests. Paramedics are being put at risk because they are not being given stab vests, Union leaders have warned.
The Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (Apap) claims attacks on crews are making such protection more vital than ever. Health minister Ben Bradshaw said that ambulance staff can have stab vests if health trusts deem it necessary.
Currently only crews in London, Essex and Dorset have the vests but Apap says 10 other NHS trusts should supply them. But the Department of Health has received no requests for funding for the body armour.
Figures released this week show 1,006 ambulance workers in England were assaulted over a 12-month period. The Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel has been fighting for the vests to be given to all front-line crews for 10 years.
Jonathan Fox, a spokesman for the Apap union, said: "Although the majority of public we serve are fine, there is a disproportionate minority of people that we attend who can turn violent and it's this risk we are trying to address by reviewing this initiative." The APAP's Jonathan Fox said escalating crime was increasing the risk of serious injury to the paramedics who respond to casualties.
The government says it takes the safety of ambulance staff very seriously. Ambulance crews across the country can have stab vests if it is decided they are necessary by their local NHS trust Department of Health spokesperson
It is up to individual NHS trusts to decide whether stab-proof vests are necessary, it added. Currently only London, Essex and Dorset issue staff with the stab vests.
The APAP have written to all trusts informing them of the department's position.
Mr Fox, who is a practising paramedic said staff were at risk every day.
He cited his own experience of treating a violent drug addict who had suffered an overdose.
Although he had no weapons, the man was lashing out and kicking Mr Fox who was fortunately wearing his body armour, which had been issued by the London Ambulance Trust in 2003, protecting him from harm.
Mr Fox said: "Although the majority of public we serve are fine, there is a disproportionate minority of people that we attend who can turn violent and it's this risk we are trying to address by reviewing this initiative."
Violence
There were 1,006 physical assaults against ambulance staff in England for the year 2006/7, figures show.
Matt Whitticombe, APAP's North West regional secretary, said: "While many of our highly-trained and dedicated staff at the cutting edge of the NHS face the threat of physical assault on a regular basis without this protection, our desk-bound administrators continue to prevaricate over the merits of body armour and so the dangers persist.
"Body armour is part of a package of safe systems, conflict-resolution strategies and personal protective equipment necessary to ensure a safer working environment for those who dedicate their working lives to the care of others."
He said there was reluctance to provide the vests, which are tailor-made to fit each specific uniform, because of concerns they are cumbersome and would encourage paramedics to take risks.
"That is unsubstantiated by the research that's been done in police officers, which shows they do not take more risks and assaults against them go down."
He added that the vests were lightweight.
A Department of Health spokesman said: "The government takes the safety of ambulance staff extremely seriously.
"Ambulance crews across the country can have stab vests if it is decided they are necessary by their local NHS trust.
"Any violence against NHS staff is unacceptable. That is why we have announced an extra £97m for security and measures that will make the NHS a safer place to work, including mobile alarms connected to control rooms."