NIAS condemns attack on local Paramedic [11/02/2010 12:58]

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service was called to a road traffic collision at 18.30 on 6th February 2010 on the Strand Road to attend a female who had suffered serious injuries as a result of being knocked down.

The paramedic who attended the scene was punched, kicked and dragged across the road while attempting to treat that patient and prior to the arrival of colleagues and the PSNI.

It was his sense of a duty of care to the patient which was the determining factor in his remaining at the scene to treat the injured party. Obviously his own safety was in danger but in stark contrast to the actions of those who carried out this assault he chose to have a positive input into life of someone who was in a vulnerable position.

NIAS condemns outright those who carried out this cowardly attack and would call for a zero tolerance approach in the handling of this case by the law enforcement agencies. Attacks such as these are too common on ambulance and other emergency and healthcare workers.

The impact on the member of staff is obvious. As a result of injuries sustained he was unable to carry on with his duties. NIAS staff need to be able to go about their duties without fear of assault or injury and NIAS would call on all those with any influence in these communities to redouble their efforts to eradicate these attacks.

There is also an impact on the wider community. If staff are assaulted and unable to continue with their shift, levels of cover for that area are immediately reduced which could have fatal consequences for the elderly and other potential patients from that community.

These attacks need to stop and need to stop now!