Paramedic has nose broken in assault by patient. (06 May 2011)

A Paramedic with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service sustained a broken nose, in the early hours of this morning, in an assault by a female patient. His crew mate also sustained injuries to her legs as the patient kicked out during attempts to restrain her after the initial assault.

NIAS received a 999 call at 01:40 for a female patient, allegedly fitting, at a nightclub in Donegall Street, Belfast. The crew arrived to find a patient who was, at this stage, alert but quite heavily intoxicated. As a precautionary measure the patient was taken, in the company of a female friend, to the Mater A&E on the Crumlin Road. During the journey the patient remained alert and engaged in conversation with her friend.

However, as the ambulance arrived at the A&E department the patient suddenly feigned unconsciousness. As the crew assisted her to her feet she head butted the male paramedic, breaking his nose. The female member of NIAS staff, with the assistance of the Mater security staff, restrained the patient and the PSNI were called. It was during this restraining process that the second member of NIAS staff was kicked in the upper legs.

When the PSNI arrived the patient was arrested and taken to Antrim Road PSNI station. The paramedic was treated in the A&E department before being released and was unavailable for the remainder of the shift.

Once again, NIAS condemns this attack on staff who have been responding to a call for help. It is intolerable that attacks such as this continue on our staff and other staff within the healthcare system and emergency services. We will encourage the prosecution of, and the delivery of stiff sentences to, those who carry out these attacks. It is not acceptable, in our view, that consumption of alcohol is proffered as an excuse for behaviour that has such devastating consequences for our staff and which puts in jeopardy our capacity to deliver an emergency response to life threatening emergencies.